1 


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HISTORY 
REDEMPTION, 

ON     A     PLAN     ENTIRELY     ORIGINAL: 

EXHIBITING      THE 

GRADUAL     DISCOVERY     AND     ACCOMPLISHMENT     OF     THE 

DIVINE      PURPOSES 

IN       THE 

SALVATION     OF    MANj 

INCLUDING    A    COMPREHENSIVE     VIEW    OF 

CHURCH       HISTORY, 

AND    THE    FULFILMENT    OF 

SCRIPTURE     PROPHECIES. 

BY    THE    LATE    R^EREND 

JONATHAN     EDWARDS, 

PRESIDENT    OF    THE    COLLEGE    OF    NEW    JERSEY. 
TO    WHICH     ARE    HOW    ADDED 

NOTES, 

HISTORICAL,    CRITICAL,    and  T  H  E  O  L  O  G  I  C  A  L, 

WITH       THE 

LIFE    AND     EXPERIENCE 

OF       THE       AUTHOR. 


Whofo  is  wife,  and  ivill  confider  thefe  things,  even  they  Jhall  underjland 
the  loving  kindnefs  of  the  Lord. Pfa.  evil. 


N    E    W-   -    Y    O     R    K: 
Printed  by  T.  and  J.  Swords,  for  the  Editor, 

M,DCC,XCIII. 


ADVERTISEMENT 

To  ihefirji  American  Edition  of  EDWARDS's 
History  of  Redemption,  wiih  Notes, 


X  HE  following  edition  of  this  in.'valuahle  work 
is  humbly  dedicated  to  the  patronage  of  the  Mini- 
fters  and  Churches  of  every  Chriltian  denomination 
throughout  thefe  United  States,  and  throughout  the 
world : — 

And  the  Editor  cannot  think  of  any  thing  better 
calculated  to  give  energy  to  the  reputation  which 
this  work  has  already  acquired;  or  to  quicken  the 
attention  of  the  Chriflian  world  to  the  careful  peru- 
fal  and  ftudy  of  it;  than  to  fay — In  this  volume  the 
reader  will  find  a  full  and  well  authenticated  Journal 
of  the  Ark  of  God;  of  that  Ark  in  which  we  now 
fail,  and  on  which  we  depend  for  a  fafe  and  fpeedy 
paflage  to  glory. 

The  Ark,  by  Noah,  is  confidered  as  a  ftriking 
emblem — a  lively  figure  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
whilft  he  bears,  in  fafety,  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration, through  the  tempefts  of  time,  his  myftical 
body,  the  Church. 

Perufing  this  Hiftory  of  Redemption — this  Jour- 
nal of  the  Ark  of  God,  v/ho  can  fail  to  admire  the 
wifdom  of  the  Great  Master-Builder  in  the 

A  2  original 


IV 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


original   defign — the    fteadinefs   of   his   hand — the 

ftabihty  of  the  purpofes  of  Heaven  in  the  regular 
courfe  of  this  Mighty  Fabric  ! — Who,  but  muft 
be  aflonifhed  at  the  power  of  that  arm,  which,  not- 
withflanding  the  tempefluous  weather  with  which 
the  Ark  has  been  aflailed — the  rocks  and  fhoals  to 
which  file  has  been  often  expofed — the  ignorance, 
contradiction  and  mutiny  of  thofe  to  whom,  under 
God,  its  navigation  has  been  committed;— and  laft 
of  all,  notwithftanding  the  unceafmg  machinations 
of  the  Prince  of  the  Power  of  the  Air,  who,  I  fay, 
but  mufl  be  aftonifhed,  and  admire  that  the  Ark 
flill  fails ;  that  flill  fhe  makes  good  her  courfe ; — ftill, 
flie  receives  paffengers  for  the  Haven  of  Celeftial 
Glory! 

Though,  to  the  eye  of  unbelief,  the  Ark  may 
feem,  now,  to  be  involved  in  tempefluous  weather, 
and  foon  to  be  foundered  through  the  probable  fai- 
lure of  borrowed  llrength;*  yet,  to  the  joy  of  the 
paffengers  there  are  thofe,  who,  looking  through  the 
mifts  of  human  or  infernal  jars,  do  hail  the  approach 
of  Millennial  Day! 

On  the  Ocean  of  the  Millennium — the  foon  ap- 
proaching feventh-thoufand  years,    it  is   predicted, 

that 

*  It  is  a  remark,  not  unworthy  of  obfervation,  that  the  Chrif- 
tian  reb'gion  has  never  had  opportunity  to  fliew  what  its  efFefts 
would  he,  uiifupported,  or  unoppofed  by  human  power — that  now, 
bsoinning  with  the  Civil  and  Religious  liberty  of  thefe  United 
States,  trial  is  to  be  had;  whether,  depending  on  its  own  bafis,  it 
will  ftand  or  fall — whether  it  be  of  God,  or  whether  it  will  come 
to  nought. 

The  idea,  no  doubt,  may  be  of  ufe  to  thofe  who  are  ftiled — 
workers  together  with  God. 


ADVERTISEMENT.  v 

that  the  Ark  fliall  fafely  and  uninterruptedly  fail; 
and,  in  her  courfe  around  the  globe,  receive  a  thou- 
fand-fold  more  paflengers,  for  the  port  of  her  def- 
tiny,  than  have  ever,  before  this  period,  lived  upon 
the  earth: — that,  after  thefe  profperous  gales,  tem- 
pefts  fhall  arife,  as  the  laft  efforts  of  expiring  Hell : — 
but  through  the  fkilful  management  of  him  who  fits 
at  helm,  no  danger  fliall  be  fuftained;  but  fafety 
to  the  Ark,  and  vi6lory  to  the  Zion  of  God,  fhall 
welcome  the  invaluable  treafure  into  the  Haven  of 
Eternal  Reft  !— 

To  fupport  the  faith  of  the  called  of  God,  and 
to  quicken  the  exertions  of  thofe,  through  whofe 
management,  under  God,  the  Ark  now  fails,  is  the 
defign  of  the  publication  of  this  firft  American 
edition  of  Edwards's  Hiftory  of  Redemption,  with 
Notes. 

That  the  defign  may  meet  the  good  wiflies  of  all 
friends  to  Zion,  and,  efpecially,  that  it  may  receive 
the  patronage  of  Heaven,  is  the  ardent  prayer  of  one, 
whofe  profeifed  ambition  it  is,  to  approve  himfelf  as 
an  induftrious  hewer  of  wood,  and  dravv^er  of  v/ater, 
for  the  Church  of  God. 


Elizabeth-Town,  1 
Dec.  I,  1793.  j" 


DAVID    AUSTIN. 


PREFACE 


PREFACE 

To  the  First  Edition. 

XT  has  long  been  defired  by  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Edwards,  that  a  number  of  his  manufcripts  fhould 
be  publifhed  ;  but  the  difadvantages  under  which  all 
pofthumous  publications  muft  neceffarily  appear,  and 
the  difficulty  of  getting  any  confiderable  work  printed 
in  this  infant  country  hitherto,  have  proved  fufficient 
obftacles  to  the  execution  of  fuch  a  propofal.  The 
firfl:  of  thefe  obftacles  made  me  doubt,  for  a  confi- 
derable time  after  thefe  manufcripts  came  into  my 
hands,  whether  I  could,  confiftently  with  that  regard 
which  I  owe  to  the  honour  of  fo  worthy  a  parent, 
fuffer  any  of  them  to  appear  in  the  world.  However, 
being  diffident  of  my  own  fentiments,  and  doubtful 
whether  I  were  not  over-jealous  in  this  matter,  I  de- 
termined to  fubmit  to  the  opinion  of  gentlemen  who 
are  friends  both  to  the  character  of  Mr.  Edwards  and 
to  the  caufe  of  truth.  The  confequence  was,  that 
they  gave  their  advice  for  publilhing  them. 

The  other  obftacle  was  removed  by  a  gentleman 
in  the  church  of  Scotland,  who  was  formerly  a  cor- 
refpondent  of  Mr.  Edwards.*  He  engaged  a  book- 
feller  to  undertake  the  work,  and  alfo  fignified  his 
defire  that  thefe  following  difcourfes  in  particular 
might  be  made  public. 

Mr. 

*Dr.  Erskinh,  of  Edinbui-o:!). 


viii  PREFACE 

Mr.  Edwards  had  planned  a  body  of  divinity,  in  a 
new  method,  and  in  the  form  of  a  hiftory  ;  in  which 
he  was  firil  to  fhew,  how  the  moft  remarkable  events 
in  all  ages,  from  the  fall  to  the  prefent  times,  recorded 
in  facred  and  profane  hiftory,  were  adapted  to  pro- 
mote the  work  of  redemption ;  and  then  to  trace,  by 
the  light  of  fcripture-prophecy,  how  the  fame  work 
fliould  be  yet  farther  carried  on  even  to  the  end  of 
the  world.  His  heart  was  fo  much  fet  on  executing 
this  plan,  that  he  was  confiderably  averfe  to  accept 
the  prefidentlliip  of  Prince-town  college,  left  the  du- 
ties of  that  office  fhould  put  it  out  of  his  power. 

The  outlines  of  that  work  are  now  offered  to  the 
public,  as  contained  in  a  feries  of  fermons  preached 
at  Northampton  in  1739,*  without  any  view  to  pub- 
lication. On  that  account,  the  reader  cannot  rea- 
fonably  expert  all  that  from  them,  v/hich  he  might 
juftly  have  expefted,  had  they  been  written  with  fuch 
a  view,  and  prepared  by  the  Author's  own  hand  for 
the  prefs. 

As  to  elegance  of  compofition,  which  is  now 
efteemed  fo  elTential  to  all  publications,  it  is  well 
known  that  the  Author  did  not  make  that  his  chief 
ftudy.  However,  his  other  writings,  though  defti- 
tute  of  the  ornaments  of  fine  language,  have,  it  feems, 
that  iolid  merit  which  has  procured,  both  to  them- 
felves  and  to  him,  a  confiderable  reputation  in  the 
world,  and  with  many  an  high  efteem.     It  is  hoped 

that 

*  This  is  necefTary  to  be  remembered  by  the  reader,  in  order 
to  underftand  fome  chronological  obfervations  in  the  following 
work. 


TO    THE    FIRST    EDITION.       Ix 

that  the  reader  will  find  in  thefe  difcourfes  many  traces 
of  plain  good  fenfe,  found  reafoning,  and  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  facred  oracles,  and  real  unfeigned 
piety :  and  that  as  the  plan  is  new,  and  many  of  the 
fentiments  uncommon,  they  may  afford  entertainment 
and  improvement  to  the  ingenious,  the  inquintive, 
and  the  pious  reader ;  may  confirni  their  faitli  in 
God's  government  of  the  world,  in  our  holy  Chrilbr .; 
religion  in  general,  and  in  many  of  its  peculiar  doc- 
trines ;  may  affift  in  fludying  with  greater  pleafure 
and  advantage  the  hiftorical  and  prophetical  books  of 
fcripture  ;  and  excite  to  a  converfation  becoming  the 
gofpel. 

That  this  volume  may  produce  thefe  happy  effefts 
in  all  who  fhall  perufe  it,  is  the  hearty  defire  and 
prayer  of 

The  reader's  mofl  humble  fervant, 

Jonathan  Edwards. 

New  Haven,  Feb,  2^,  I  yy^^. 


B  ADVER- 


ADVERTISEMENT 

TO    THIS     EDITION. 


X  HE  preceding  Preface,  by  Dr.  Jonathan  Ed- 
wards of  NewHaven,  (fon  of  President  Edwards, 
and  Member  of  the  Connecllcut  Society  of  Arts  and 
Sciences)  has  fufficiently  apprized  the  reader  of  the 
nature  of  the  following  Work ;  we  have  only  to  add, 
that  the  original  papers,  being  remitted  to  Dr.  Er- 
SKINE,  were  by  him  reduced  from  the  form  of  Ser- 
mons to  that  of  a  Treatife,  and  publifhed  at  Edinburgh. 

Two  material  defeats  were,  however,  complained 
of  in  that  edition  :  Firft,  that  only  mere  hints  were 
fometimes  dropt  of  an  important  idea,  which  the 
Author  would  doubtlefs  have  enlarged  on,  had  he  pre- 
pared the  work  for  publication  :  and  fecondly,  that 
many  of  the  hiflorical  and  critical  obfervations  were 
not  fupported  with  proper  authorities,  v/hich  in  pulpit 
difcourfes  v/ould  have  been  impertinent,  but  became 
highly  neceffary  in  a  pubhcation. 

For  thefe  defe(Sls  there  appeared  no  remedy,  but 
fupplying,  in  the  form  of  notes,  what,  probably  the 
Author  would  for  the  moft  part  have  inferted  in  the 
body  of  the  work. 

The  celebrity  of  the  Author,  from  whom  many  of 
the  notes  are  felefted,  will  (lamp  thcjn  with  fufficient 
credit :  for  the  others,  the  publiflier  has  to  confefs  his 
obligations  to  Gentlemen,  whofe  names  he  would  be 
proud  to  mention  if  permitted. 

The  Life  and  Experience  of  the  Author,  the  Syllabus, 
General  Index,  Table  of  Texts  explained,  and  other 
improvements  of  this  Edition,  will,  it  is  hoped,  alfo 
contribute  to  render  it  more  generally  acceptable  and 
ufeful. 

LONDON, 

DTC.   27,     1788. 

Authors 


(   xi   ) 


Authors  cited  in  the  following  Work. 


Addifon. 

Ainfvvorth. 

Allen,  Dr. 

Allix,  Dr. 

Bacon,  Lord. 

Barnabas,  St. 

Baxter,  R. 

Bede. 

Bennett,  B. 

Bingham. 

Blackwell. 

Blair,  Dr. 

Burnett,  Dr. 

Calvin. 

Cave,  Dr. 

Celfus. 

Claude. 

Clemens  Roman. 

Cofins,  Bp. 

Cruden. 

De  Laune. 

De  Lolme. 

Diodorus. 

Dryden. 

Dupin. 

Edwards,  Prei". 

Eliezer. 

Eufebius. 

Fergufon. 

Findlay. 

Flavel. 

Fox. 

Faulke,  Dr. 

Fuller,  Dr. 

Geddes,  Dr 


Oerundenfis. 

Geffner. 

Gibbon,  E. 

Gill,  Dr. 

Glynn,  Dr. 

Glruterus. 

Guife,  Dr. 

Hammond,  Dr. 

Heidegger. 

Harris,  Dr. 

Helvicus. 

Henry,  M. 

Herodotus. 

Hervey. 

Homer. 

Howe. 

Hurd,  Bp. 

Hunter,  Dr.  H. 

Hutchinfon,  J. 

Jamblicus, 

Jarchi. 

Jenyns,   Soamc. 

Ignatius,  St. 

Jofephus. 

Juflia  Martyr. 

Kennett. 

Kimchi. 

La6lantius. 

Lardner. 

Le  Pluche,  Abbe. 

Le  Clerc. 

Levi. 

Lightfoot,  Dr. 

Lipfius. 

Locke. 


Xll 


) 


Lowman. 

Lowth,  Bp. 

M'Ewen. 

Maimonides. 

JM'fher. 

Mede. 

Menrichem. 

Michaelis. 

Middleton,  Dr. 

Milton. 

Moore,  Dr. 

Newcome,  Bp. 

Newton,  Sir  Kaac. 

Bp. 

Mr. 

Owen,  Dr. 

Parklunft. 

Patrick,  Bp. 

Pearfon,  Bp. 

Pike. 

Platina. 

Pliny. 

Plutarch. 

Pope,  A. 

Prideaux,  Dr. 

Poole. 

Potter,  Abp. 

Rapin. 

Reader. 

Reinerus. 

Robinlon,  R. 

RoUin. 


Roufleau. 
Rowe,  Mrs. 
Saurin. 
Schindler. 
Scott,  Dr. 
Serces. 
Shakefpeare. 
Sherlock,  Bp. 
Shuckford,  Dr. 
South,  Dr. 
Stackhoufe. 
Tacitus. 
Targums. 
Taylor,  J. 
Tertullian. 
Thuanus. 
Tacitus. 
Tennifon,  Abp, 
Toplady. 
Turner,  D. 
Tertullian. 
Virgil. 

Un'tverfal  Hiji. 
Watts,  Dr. 
Warburton,  Bp.- 
Ward,  Dr. 
Whitby,  Dr. 
Whitfield. 
Winter,  R. 
WolHus. 
Young,  A. 
Dr.  E. 


THE 


THE 


LIFE    AND    EXPERIENCE 


OF      THE      REVEREND 


JONATHAN     EDWARDS. 


B 


lOGRAPHY  is  confeflcdly  a  very  agreeable  ftudy, 
and  when  eminent  and  good  men  are  the  fubjc6i:s  of  it, 
no  lefs  inftru6live  and  improving.  We  contemplate 
with  pleafure  thofe  who  have  attained  degrees  of  virtue  or 
knowledge  which  ourfelves  are  feeking;  and  there  is  a 
voice  in  a£l:s  of  piety  and  benevolence,  like  that  of  the 
Redeemer,  '  Go  thou  and  do  likewife:'  but  Christian 
Biography  has  another  end  in  view;  we  are  taught  to 
confider  believers  as  '  The  workmanfliip  of  Chrift  fefus, 
*  created  anew  unto  good  works :'  and  certainly  the  freenefs 
and  power  of  divine  grace  are  no  lefs  confpicuous  in  thefe, 
than  are  the  other  attributes  of  Deity  in  the  works  of  na- 
ture and  providence.  Or,  to  borrow  another  metaphor 
of  infpiration,  they  are  the  living  Epiftles  of  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  have  thefe  particular  advantages  over  thofe 
infcribed  with  ink  and  pen,  that  they  are  both  more 
durable  and  more  legible— they  are  living  and  as  durable 
as  eternal  life  ;  they  are  '  feen  and  read  of  all  men  :'  for 
the  moft  illiterate  can  read  the  language  of  a  holy  life, 
though  they  may  not  be  able  to  read  a  line  or  a  letter  of  the 
infpired  volume. 

President  Edwards,  the  author  of  the  enfuing  Hif- 
tory,  was  one  of  the  wifeft,  bcft,  and  moft  ufeful  preachers 

this 


4  THELIFEOFTHE 

this  age  lias  produced  ;  his  writings  exhibit  a  remarkable 
ftrength  of  intellect ;  the  pcrfpicuity  of  thought  and  depth 
of  penetration  difcovered  in  his  vindication  of  the  great 
dodtrines  of  Chriftianity,  prove  him  to  be  a  good  fcholar, 
a  bright  genius,  and  a  great  divine. 

This  learned  and  moft  excellent  man  was  born  at  Wind- 
for,  in  the  province  of  Conne6licut,  0£l:ober  ^th,  1703; 
was  entered  at  Yale  College  in  17 16,  and  made  bachelor 
of  arts  in  1720,  before  he  was  feventeen  years  of  age.  His 
mental  powers  opened  themfelves  fo  early  and  fo  vigoroufly, 
that  he  read  Locke's  Effay  upon  Human  Underftanding 
with  uncommon  delight  at  thirteen  years  of  age  :  even  at 
that  period  difcovering  a  depth,  folidity,  and  penetration 
of  mind,  which  found  nothing  fo  pleafant  to  itfclf  as  the 
exercife  of  its  own  powers. 

He  lived  at  college  near  two  years  after  taking  this  firil 
degree,  preparing  himfelf,  principally,  for  the  facred  func- 
tion. After  paffing  the  ufual  trials,  he  was  licenfed,  ac- 
cording to  the  cuflom  of  the  college  and  the  form  of  religion 
in  the  province,  to  preach  the  gofpel  as  a  candidate. 

In  Auguft  1722,  he  received  a  calico  preach  to  the 
Englirti  Prelbyterians  at  New  York,  where  he  continued 
with  approbation  above  eight  months.  This  fociety  was 
then  too  fmall  to  maintain  a  minifter;  and  therefore,  in 
the  fpring  of  the  year  1723,  he  returned  to  his  father's 
houfe  in  Conne6licut,  where,  during  the  following  fum- 
mer,  he  followed  his  ftudies  with  the  clofell  application. 
It  appears,  however,  that  he  had  a  deep  fenfe  of  the 
chriftian  and  miniflerial  profcffion  upon  his  mind  during 
his  abode  at  New  York,  that  the  people  he  watched  over 
became  very  dear  to  him,  and  that  he  left  them  at  laft  with 
great  regret. 

In  the  fpring  of  the  year  1724,  having  taken  his 
mafter's  degree  in  the  year  before,  he  was  chofen  tutor 
of  Yale  College,  and  he  followed  this  duty  above  two 
years.  It  muft  be  owned,  that  this  was  an  engagement 
of  great  confequence  for  a  young  man  of  twenty-one, 
who,  by  his  early  introdu£tion  into  the  minillry,  and 
other  avocations,  could  not  have  fouod  too  many  oppor- 
tunities 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  5 

tunltles  for  his  own  improvement;  but  the  ftrength  of 
his  mind  overcame  what  are  ufually  infuperable  difficul- 
ties in  the  way  of  the  generahty  ;  and  perhaps  his  genius 
a6led  more  forcibly  from  its  not  being  confined  with  aca- 
demical fetters,  which  elevated  geniufes  can  feldom  en- 
dure. 

In  September,  1726,  he  refigned  his  tutorfliip,  in  con- 
fequence  of  the  invitation  of  the  people  at  Northampton, 
in  Conne£licut,  for  afliflance  to  his  mother's  father,  Mr. 
Stoddard,  who  was  the  fettled  minifter  of  the  town. 
He  was  ordained  colleague  on  the  x  5th  of  February, 
1727,  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  conti- 
nued in  the  minifterial  fervice  there  till  the  22d  of  June, 
1750,  when  he  was  difmifled  for  attempting  to  reform 
the  church. 

What  feems  at  firft  to  have  rendered  Mr.  Edwards 
an  obje6l  of  hatred,  was  a  circumftance,  which  fliould 
have  made  him,  and  certainly  would,  among  perfons  tru- 
ly religious,  an  obje6t  of  love.  Some  young  perfons  of 
his  flock  had  procured  fome  obfcene  publications,  which 
they  commented  upon  among  themfelves  for  their  ow» 
proficiency  in  lafcivioufnefs,  and  propagated,  with  the 
ufual  decency  of  fuch  perfons,  for  the  infe6tion  of  others. 
This  came  in  a  fhort  time  to  Mr.  Edwards's  ears ;  and 
therefore  taking  cccafion  after  a  fermon  upon  Heb.  xii. 
15,  16.  preached  for  the  purpofe,  to  call  the  leading 
members  of  his  charge  together,  he  informed  them  of 
what  he  had  heard,  and  procured  a  confent  that  the 
matter  ihould  be  examined.  A  committee  was  appoint- 
ed for  this  purpofe,  and  to  affill:  the  paftor.  When  this 
was  done,  Mr.  Edwards  appointed  a  time  of  meeting; 
and  then  read  a  lift  of  the  names  of  young  perfons,  ac- 
cufmg  and  accufed,  without  fpecifying  under  which  pre- 
dicament they  ftood,  who  were  defired  to  come  together  at 
his  houfe. 

Upon  the  declaration  of  names,  it  appeared  tliat  al- 
moft  all  the  families  in  the  town  had  fome  relation  or 
other  concerned  in  the  matter :  and  therefore  a  great 
number  of  the  heads   of   families    not  only    altered   their 

minds 


6  THELIFEOFTHE 

minds  about  examination,  but  declared,  that  their  cliil- 
dren,  &c.  fhould  not  be  called  to  account  for  fuch  things 
as  thefe.  The  town  was  immediately  in  a  blaze:  and  this 
fo  ftrengthened  the  hands,  or  hardened  the  faces  of  the 
guilty,  that  they  fet  their  Paftor  at  defiance  with  the  greateft 
infolence  and  contempt. 

Thus  Mr.  Edwards's  hands  were  weakened  ;  and  we 
are  told,  that  he  afterwards  had  but  little  fuccefs  in  his 
miniftry  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  fecurity  and  carnality 
much  increafed  among  his  people,  and  the  youth  in  parti- 
cular became  more  wanton  and  dilTolute. 

All  this  paved  the  way  for  fomething  more.  It  had 
been  a  ftanding  opinion  among  this  people  for  fome  time, 
countenanced  alfo  by  their  late  paftor,  "  That  uncon- 
verted perfons,"  known  to  be  fuch  by  the  ungodlinefs  of 
their  lives,  or  their  ignorance  of  divine  truth,  "  had  not- 
"withftanding  a  right  in  the  fight  of  God  to  tlie  facrament 
of  the  Lord's  fupper  ;  and  that,  therefore,  it  was  their 
duty  to  partake  of  it,  even  though  they  had  no  appear- 
ance of  the  grace  and  holinefs,  which  the  gofpel  ftates 
to  be  infeparable  from  true  believers.  It  was  fufE- 
cient  if  they  were  outward  and  vifible  members ;  fo 
that  they,  who  really  rejeiled  Jefus  Chrifl:,  and  difliked 
the  gofpel-way  of  falvation  in  their  hearts,  and  knew 
that  this  was  true  of  themfelves,  might  (inconceivable 
as  it  appears)  make  the  profeffion  without  lying  and 
hypocrify." 

To  the  common  inconveniences  always  attending  a 
national  church,  where  it  is  impoflible  to  examine  every 
man's  profeffion,  or  to  keep  him  from  difgracing  it,  here 
is  an  addition  becoming  the  difciples  of  Ignatius  of  Loyola, 
by  which  men  may  be  hypocrites  without  the  guilt  of  hy- 
pocrify, and  lyars  without  the  imputation  of  fm.  A 
convenient  fort  of  principle  indeed  to  men  of  a  certain 
caft ;  but  by  no  means  to  thofe,  who  are  never  to  forget, 
that  '  Fornication  and  all  uncleannefs,  filthinefs,  orfoolidi 
*  talking,  Ihould  not  be  even  named  amongft  them,  as  be- 
'  cometh  faints.'     [See  Eph.  v.  3— 7-'] 

Mr 


REV.    JONATHAN    EDWARDS.  7 

Mr.  Edwards  had  long  been  uneafy  upon  the  preva- 
lence of  this  principle,  (one  of  the  moft  ftrange  that  ever 
any  church  of  Chrifl  avowed)  and  upon  his  own  yield- 
in'^  to  the  example  of  his  predeceffor  and  to  a  pra6lice 
fettled  before  he  came  thither.  His  doubts  and  uneail- 
nefs,  as  might  be  expelled  from  fo  good  a  man,  increafcd 
upon  him,  and  drove  him  at  length  to  a  thorough  in- 
veftio-ation  of  the  fubje6l ;  the  rcfult  of  which  was  a  clear 
convi6tion  of  the  error,  and  a  firm  determination  to  ex- 
pofe  it.  He  was  convinced,  that  "  To  be  a  v'lfible  Chrif- 
tian  was  to  put  on  the  appearance  of  a  real  one  ;  tliat  the 
profeffion  of  chrilHanity  was  a  profeffion  of  that,  in  w-hich 
real  chiSftianity  confifts;"  and  that,  therefore,  as  the 
Lord's  fupper  was  intended  for  real  Chriftians,  none  ought 
to  come  to  it,  who  were  not  at  Icafl  profefibrs  of  real 
chriflianity,  and  to  whom  no  imputation  of  allowed  ungod- 
liuefs  could  juftly  be  made. 

The  declaration  of  his  mind  upon  this  head,  among 
fuch  a  kind  of  men,  raifed  an  immediate  clamour,  and 
put  the  town  into  as  great  a  ferment  as  the  preaching  of 
an  holy  apoftle  had  long  before  occafioned  at  Ephelus. 
They  were  all  in  an  uproar  :  and  '  Difmifs  him,  difniiis 
'  him,'  was  the  unlverfal  cry  of  men,  women,  and  eiders. 
He  had  touched  a  favourite  fin,  and  a  favourite  principle 
which  protedted  it :  and  (what  was  a  very  great  truth, 
though  not  in  their  fenfe  of  it)  he  was  no  longer  fit  to  be 
their  pallor.  He  attempted  to  reafon  with  them  calmly  ; 
but  it  was  oppofing  his  breath  to  the  winds,  the  general  cry 
was  to  have  him  difmiffed. 

Mr.  Edwards,  when  they  would  not  hear  him,  wiihed 
to  refer  thg  matter  to  fome  neighbouring  miniders ;  but 
this  being  rejedted,  he  attempted  to  difcufs  the  matter  in 
a  courfe  of  ledfures,  which  he  began  for  the  purpofe ;  but 
although  numbers  came  from  the  adjoining  parts,  very 
few  of  his  own  congregation  would  attend.  So  intoxicat- 
ing is  the  nature  of  human  prejudice,  when  once  indulged, 
that  men  v/ill  rather  renounce  their  reafon  than  refume  their 
temper. 

C  He 


8  THELIFEOFTHE 

He  ufed  all  means  in  his  power  to  reduce  them  at 
leaft  to  a  calm,  if  not  a  charitable,  temper;  to  hear  and 
weigh,  with  a  little  attention,  what  he  had  to  fay  for 
himfelf;  and  not  to  condemn  him,  were  it  only  for 
their  own  fakes,  without  fome  fliadow  of  a  reafon !  But 
his  meeknefs  and  modefty  were  treated  as  conceffions 
againft  himfelf,  and  only  raifed  the  infolence  and  fury 
of  his  adverfaries,  inftead  of  foftening  them  into  peace. 
Nothing  would  ferve  their  turn  (how  plainly  foever 
againft  their  fpiritual  and  real  intereft)  but  an  abfolute 
feparation. 

Mr.  Edwards,  finding  all  methods  ineffedlual  to  re- 
flrain  the  torrent  of  virulence,  flander,  and  falihood 
rolling  upon  him,  at  length  yielded  to  the  artifice  of 
thefe  men  in  packing  a  council,  compofed  chiefly  of  their 
own  friends;  thefe,  after  fome  unavailing  attempts  for  a 
reconciliation,  pafled  a  refolve,  by  the  majority  of  one 
voice  onlv,  to  this  effeil,  That  it  was  expedient  that 
the  paftoral  relation  between  Mr.  Edwards  and  his  church 
fhould  be  diffolved,  if  they  perfifted  in  requiring  it.  This 
being  reported  to  the  people,  they  immediately  voted  his 
difmiffion  by  a  majority  of  two  hundred  againft  twenty,  and 
he  was  accordingly  difmiffed  June  22,  1750. 

Thus  had  thefe  people  the  infamy  of  endeavouring 
to  ruin  the  moft  able  and  celebrated  divine,  who  hath 
as  yet  been  born  in  America.  But  they  knew  not  their 
own  mercies  ;  fuch  a  man  as  Mr.  Edwards  would  im- 
part honour  to  any  coimtry  or  profeffion,  and  be  readily 
embraced  by  the  wife  and  good  in  all.  The  few  abhor- 
rers  of  this  atrocious  a6l  entered  an  unavailing  proteft 
againft  it.  The  good  man,  fliocked  rather  for  his  ene- 
mies than  for  himfelf,  preached  a  moft  folemn  and  af- 
fcdling  farewell  difcourfe,  which  was  "afterwards  publiih- 
ed,  on  2  Cor.  i.  4.  on  which  he  raifed  this  dodlrinc, 
"  That  minifters,  and  the  people  who  have  been  under  their 
care,  muft  meet  one  another  at  ihe  tribunal  of  Chrift." 
The  malice  of  his  enemies  did  not  ftop  here  ;  for  when 
at  times  there  was  no  preacher  to  fupply  the  pulpit,  he 
cheerfully  gave  them  his  fervice,  rather  than  it  fhould  be 

empty. 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  9 

empty.  This  kindnefs,  which  would  have  conciliated 
more  ingenuous  minds,  only  increafed  the  unhappy  flame 
kindled  in  theirs,  inlomuch  that  they  called  the  town  to- 
gether and  voted  that  he  iliould  preach  among  them  no 
more.  And  fo  they  frequently  went  without  preaching, 
rather  than  have  the  free  miniftrations  of  a  man,  of  whom 
the  world  Itfelf  was  not  tvorthy. 

Thus  ended  his  fervice  of  near  four-and-twenty  years 
to  an  undifcerning  and  ungrateful  people,  who  had  been 
much  upon  his  heart,  and  for  whom  he  had  always  ex- 
prefled  a  very  tender  concern.  "  For  their  good  he  was 
always  writing,  contriving,  and  labouring  ;  for  them  he 
had  poured  out  ten  thoufand  fervent  prayers ;  and  in  their 
welfare  he  had  rejoiced  as  one  that  findeth  great  fpoil." 
Yet  all  their  deteftable  conducL  did  not  alter  the  frame 
of  his  mind.  "  He  was  calm,  fedate  and  humble  under 
the  moft  injurious  treatment;  his  refolution  and  con- 
du61:  in  the  whole  affair  were  wonderful,  and  cannot 
be  fet  in  fo  beautiful  and  afFe6ling  a  light  by  any  de- 
fcription,  as  they  appeared  in  to  his  friends  who  were  eye- 
witnefles." 

This  incomparable  man  was  now  in  the  decline  of 
life,  with  little  or  no  income  befidcs  his  Itipend  :  and 
this  throws  the  greateft  light  upon  his  faithfulnefs  and 
fincerity  :  nor  had  he  any  view  of  fupport  from  another 
appointment ;  for  he  knew  not  how  far  the  malice  of  his 
people  might  extend  to  prevent  it,  or  the  prejudice  of  his 
difmiflion  operate  againft  him  elfewhere:  neither  was  he 
capable  (alas,  what  pity  he  ihould  be  driven  to  think  of 
it!)  to  take  up  any  other  bufmcfs  for  a  fupport.  Thus 
poverty  and  difgrace  were  before  him.  But  he  knew  that 
he  had  a  good  Mafter.  He  had  divine  comfort  in  his  foul ; 
and  in  a  lliort  time  Providence  provided  for  both  him  and 
his  family. 

Aihamed  of  this  unparalleled  bafenefs  to  fo  excel- 
lent a  man,  his  friends,  or  rather  the  friends  of  god- 
linefs,  adminiftered  to  his  relief:  and  he  was  foon  after 
appointed  to  the  miifion  at  Stockbridge  ;    but  not  before 

C  2  fome 


lo  THE     LIFE     OFTHE 

fome  other  infolent  and  bitter  attempts  had  been  made 
to  ruin  his  reputation,  as  well  as  to  deprive  him  of 
bread. 

It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  add,  that  one  of  the 
ringleaders  in  this  iniquitous  bufmefs  was  fo  flung  with 
his  condu6l  towards  Mr.  Edwards,  that  he  afterwards 
made  a  public  confcffion  of  his  guilt,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hall,  of  Sutton,  which  letter,  after  having  enu- 
^r.erated  the  particulars  of  his  oppofition  to  that  good  man, 
concludes  thus,  "  In  thefe  inflances.  Sir,  of  my  condutSl, 
and  others  (to  which  you  was  not  privv)  in  the  courfe 
of  that  moft  melancholy  contention  with  Mr.  Edwards, 
wherein  I  now  fee  that  I  was  very  much  influenced  by 
vafl:  pride,  felf-fufficiency,  ambition,  and  vanity,  I  ap- 
pear to  myfelf  vile ;  and  doubtlefs  much  more  fo  to 
others  vi'ho  are  more  impartial  ;  and  do,  in  the  re- 
view thereof,  abhor  myfelf,  and  repent  forely :  and  if 
my  own  heart  condemns  me,  it  behoves  me  folemnly 
to  remember,  that  God  is  greater,  and  knoweth  all 
things ;  and  I  hereby  own,  Sir,  that  fuch  treatment  of 
Mr.  Edwards,  as  is  herein  before  mentioned,  wherein 
I  was  fo  deeply  concerned  and  a61:ive,  was  particularly 
and  very  aggravatedly  finfui  and  ungrateful  in  me,  be- 
caufe  I  was  not  only  under  the  common  obligations  of 
each  individual  of  the  fociety  to  him,  as  a  moft  able, 
diligent,  and  faithful  pafior ;  but  I  had  alfo  received 
many  inftances  of  his  tendernefs,  goodnefs,  and  gene- 
rofity  to  me,  as  a  young  kinfman,  whom  he  was  dif- 
pofed  to  treat  in  a  moft  friendly  manner.  Indeed,  Sir, 
I  muft  own,  that  by  my  conduct  in  confulting  and  a6t- 
ing  againft  Mr.  Edwards,  within  the  time  of  our  moft 
unhappy  difputes  with  him,  and  efpccially  in  and  about 
that  abominable  rcmonitrance,  I  have  fo  far  fymbolized 
with  Balaam,  Ahithophel,  and  Judas,  that  I  am  con- 
founded and  filled  with  terror  oftentimes  when  I  attend 
to  the  moft  painful  fimilitude.  And  I  freely  confefs, 
that  en  account  of  my  conduct  above  mentioned,  I 
have  the  grcateft  reafon  to  tremble'at  thofe  moft  folcmn 
and   awful   words  of   our  Saviour,    Matt,    xviii.    6.    and 

thofe 


REV.    JONATHAN    EDWARDS.  n 

ihofe  in  Luke  xth,  at  the  i6th  :  And  I  am  moft  forely 
fcnfible  that  nothing  but  that  infinite  grace  and  mercy, 
which  faved  fome  of  the  betrayers  and  murderers  of  our 
blefled  Lord  and  the  pcrfecutors  of  his  martyrs,  can 
pardon  me :  in  which  alone  I  hope  for  pardon,  for  the 
fake  of  Chrif!:,  whofe  blood  (blefTed  be  God)  cleanfeth 
from  all  fin.  And  I  moft  heartily  wiih  and  pray,  that 
the  town  and  church  of  Northampton  would  ferioufly 
and  carefully  examine  whether  they  have  not  abundant 
caufe  to  judge,  that  they  are  now  lying  under  great  guilt 
in  the  fight  of  God .  and  whether  thofe  of  us,  who 
were  concerned  in  that  moft  awful  contention  with  Mr. 
Edwards,  can  ever  more  reafonably  expect  God's  favour 
and  bleffing,  until  our  eyes  are  opened,  and  we  become 
thoroughly  convinced  that  wc  have  greatly  provoked  the 
moft  High,  and  been  injurious  to  one  of  the  beft  of 
men  ;  and  until  we  ihall  be  thoroughly  convinced  that 
we  have  dreadfully  perfecuted  Chrift  by  perfecuting  and 
vexing  that  jufl  man  and  fervant  of  ChrilT;  ;  until  we 
fliall  be  humble  as  in  the  dull  therefore,  and  till  we 
openly  in  full  terms,  and  without  baulking  the  matter, 
confefs  the  fame  before  the  world,  and  mofl  humbly  and 
carneftly  feek  forgivenefs  of  God,  and  do  what  we  can 
to  honour  tiie  memory  of  Mr.  Edwards,  and  clear  it 
of  all  the  afperfions  which  are  unjuflly  cafl  upon  him  ; 
fince  God  has  been  pleafed  to  put  it  beyond  our  power 
to  afk  his  forgivenefs.  Such  terms  I  am  perfuaded  the 
great  and  righteous  God  will  hold  us  to,  and  that  it  will 
be  in  vain  for  us  to  hope  to  efcape  with  impunity  in  any 
other  way.  This  I  am  convinced  of  with  regard  to  ray- 
felf,  and  this  way  I  moft  folemnly  propofe  to  take  to 
myfelf  (if  God  in  his  mercy  ihall  give  me  opportu- 
nity) that  fo  by  making  free  confcflion  to  God  and  man 
of  my  fin  and  guilt,  and  publickly  taking  fhame  to  my- 
felf therefore,  I  may  give  glory  to  the  God>  of  Ifrael, 
and  do  what  in  me  lies,  to  clear  the  memory  of  that  ve- 
nerable man  from  the  wrongs  and  injuries  I  was  fo  ac- 
tive  in    bringing  on  his  rcp\itation  and  character  ;    and  I 

thank 


12  THELIFEOFTHE. 

thank  God  that  he  has  been  pleafed  to  fpare  my  life  and  op- 
portunity therefore  to  this  time,  and  am  forry  that  I  have 
delayed  the  affair  fo  long." 

Mr.  Edwards,  who  was  able  to  fliine  in  the  feats  of 
learning,  and  fome  time  hence  was  called  to  prefide  over 
one,  was  now  delegated  to  the  inftruftion  of  favage  In- 
dians at  Stockbridge.  This  place  is  in  the  weflern  part 
of  Maflachufctts  Bay,  and  about  fix  miles  from  Mr. 
Edwards's  former  refidence  at  Northampton.  He  was 
fixed  here  on  the  8th  of  Augufl,  1751  ;  and  here  he  con- 
tinued his  labours,  in  more  peace  and  quietnefs  than  he 
had  ever  known  before,  for  fix  years.  In  this  interval, 
though  much  in  years,  he  made  greater  attainments  in 
knowledge,  and  wrote  more  for  the  church  of  God,  than 
he  had  ever  been  able  to  do,  within  the  fame  fpace  of  time, 
during  the  former  part  of  his  life.  In  this  retirement,  he 
compofed  his  deeped  and  mofi;  valuable  works  ;  fo  that 
when,  in  his  own  judgment,  as  well  as  that  of  others,  his 
ufefulnefs  feemed  to  be  cut  off,  he  found  greater  opportu- 
nities of  fervice  than  ever.  A  pleafing  calm,  after  fo  grie- 
vous a  florm,  to  his  troubled  mind  ! 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Aaron  Burr,  prefide nt  of  New 
Jerfey  College,  which  was  on  the  24th  of  September, 
1757,  the  truftees  of  that  feminary  unfoHcIted  cliofe 
Mr.  Edwards  to  fuccced  him  :  but  our  excellent  author 
was  witli  difficulty  prevailed  upon  to  accept  it ;  modeflly 
alledging  his  own  infufficiency,  ill  health,  and  difufe  to 
that  kind  of  life.  At  length,  upon  the  arguments  and, 
perfualions  of  his  brethren  in  the  miniftry,  he  accepted 
of  this  prefidency,  and  went  from  Stockbridge  to  Prince 
Town  in  January,  1758.  But  the  end  of  his  labours 
was  ajiproaching ;  he  had  only  preached  two  or  three  fer- 
mons,  and  had  not  entered  fully  upon  the  duties  of  his 
new  office,  when  he  was  called  to  glory.  The  fmall 
pox,  which  has  always  been  unufually  fatal  in  America, 
had  infefted  Prince  Town,  which,  induced  the  phyfician 
of  the  place  to  advifc  him  to  be  ^inoculated,  with  tlie 
confent  of  the  corporation.     Accordingly   he  was  inocu- 

»  lated 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  13 

lated  on  the  13th  of  February,  and  his  diforder  at  firft 
feemed  to  be  favourable;  but  a  fever  coming  on,  and  the 
puftules  laying  much  in  his  throat,  noproper  medicines  could 
be  adminiltered,  and  therefore  the  violence  of  it  raged,  till 
it  put  an  end  to  his  ufeful  life,  on  the  22d  of  March,  1 758, 
in  the  iifty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

When  he  was  fenfible  that  death  was  approacliing,  he 
called  his  daughter  (who  was  the  only  part  of  his  family 
which  had  yet  removed  with  him,)  and  addreffed  her  in 
the  following  words:     '  Dear  Lucy,  it  feems  to  me  to  be 

*  the   will  of  God,  that  I  muft  fliortly  leave  you  :  there- 

*  fore,  give  my  kindeft  love  to  my  dear  wife,  and  tell  her, 

*  that  the  uncommon  union,   which  has  fo  long  fubfifted 

*  between  us,  has  been  of  fuch  a  nature,  as  1  truft  is  fpi- 

*  ritual,    and  therefore  will   continue  for  ever.      I  hope 

*  fhe  will  be  fupported  under  fo  great  a  trial,  and  fubmit 

*  cheerfully  to  the  will  of  God.     And  as  to  my  children, 

*  you  are  now  like  to  be  left  fatherlefs,  which  I  hope  will 

*  be  an  inducement  to  you  all  to  feek  a  father,  who  will 

*  never  fail  you.'  He  defired  that  his  funeral  might  not  be 
attended  with  parade  (as  is  ufual  in  America,)  but  ra- 
ther fomething  be  given  to  the  poor.  He  could  fay  but 
little  in  his  ficknefs,  owing  to  the  nature  and  feat  of  his 
diforder  ;  but  jufl:  at  the  laft,  when  furrounded  by  friends 
lamenting  their  own  lofs  and  that  of  fhe  church  and  col- 
lege, he  faid,  to  their  great  furprize,  as  they  did  not  ima- 
gine he  heard  them  or  was  able  to  fpeak,  '  Trull  in  God, 

*  and  ye  need  not  fear:'  and  then,  almoft  literally,  fell 
alleep  in  Jefus. 

We  are  perfuaded  our  readers  will  be  abundantly  gra- 
tified with  the  account  of  our  author's  experience  as  written 
by  himfelf ;  and  therefore  fhall  make  no  apology  for  fub- 
joining  almoft  the  whole  of  it. 

In  this  narrative  we  find  our  great  and  celebrated  me- 
taphyfician  relating  the  manner  of  God's  dealings  with 
his  foul,  in  a  ftile  that  breathes  all  the  humility  and 
fimplicity  of  a  little  child.  "  It  is  peculiarly  fwect  to 
obferve,"  fays  an  evangelical  writer,  «« that  in  matters  of 

fpiritual 


14  T  H  E     L  I  F  E     O  F    T  H  E 

fplritual  concern,  the  philofopher  and  the  ploughman,  if 
truly  regenerated,  have  the  fame  feelings,  and  fpenk  the 
fame  langiiage  :  they  all  '  eat  of  the  fame  fpiritual  meat, 
and  drink  of  the  fame  fpiritiaal  rock,  which  follows  them, 
and  that  rock  is  Chrift.'  Hence  that  fimilitude  of  expe- 
rience or  (to  fpeak  figuratively)  that  llrong  and  flriking 
family  likenefs,  which  obtjiins  among  the  converted  people 
of  God,  in  every  period  of  time,  and  in  every  nation  un- 
der heaven.  They  all  without  exception  feel  thcmfelves 
totally  ruined  by  original  fm  ;  they  all  without  exception 
take  refuge  in  the  righteoufnefs  and  crcfs  of  Chrift  ;  and 
unite  in  afcribing  the  whole  praife  of  their  falvation  to 
the  alone  free  grace  and  fovereign  mercy  of  Father,  Son, 
and  Spirit." 

"  I  had,"  fays  Mr.  Edwards,  "  a  variety  of  concerns 
and  exercifcs  about  my  foul  from  my  childhood  ;  but 
had  two  more  remarkable  feafons  of  awakening,  before  I 
met  with  that  change  by  which  I  was  brought  to  thofe 
new  difpoiitions,  and  that  new  fenfe  of  things,  that  I 
have  fince  had.  The  firft  time  was  when  I  was  a  boy, 
fome  years  before  I  went  to  college,  at  a  time  of  remark- 
able awakening  in  my  father's  congregation.  I  was  then 
very  much  affected  for  many  months,  and  concerned 
about  the  things  of  religion,  and  ray  foul's  falvation  i 
and  was  abundant  in  duties.  I  ufed  to  pray  five  times  a 
day  in  fecret,  and  to  fpend  much  time  in  religious  talk 
with  other  boys ;  and  ufed  to  meet  with  them  to  pray  to- 
gether. I  experienced  I  know  not  what  kind  of  delight 
in  religion ;  my  mind  was  much  engaged  in  it,  and  had 
much  felf-righteous  plcafure ;  and  it  was  my  delight  to 
abound  in  religious  duties.  I,  with  fome  of  my  fchool- 
mates,  joined  together  and  built  a  booth  in  a  uvamp,  in 
a  very  fecret  and  retired  place,  for  a  place  of  prayer. 
And,  befides,  I  had  particular  fecret  places  of  my  own  in 
the  woods,  wliere  I  ufed  to  retire  by  myfelf,  and  ufed  to 
be,  from  time  to  time,  much  affected.  My  affeilions 
feemed  to  be  lively  and  enfily  moved,  and  1  feemed  to  be 
in  my  clement,  when  I  engaged  in  religious  duties  :  and 
I  am  ready  to  think,  many  are  de'ccived  with  fuch  affec- 
tions, 


REV.   JONATHAN  EDWARDS.  15 

lions,  and  fuch  a  kind  of  delight,  as  I  then  had  in  religion, 
and  iniftake  it  for  grace. 

"  But  in  pvocefs  of  time,  my  convi6lions  and  affections 
wore  off,  and  I  entirely  lofl  all  thofe  affe6lions  and  delights, 
and  left  oiF  fecret  prayer,  at  lead:  as  to  any  conllant  per- 
formance of  it:  and  returned  like  a  dog  to  his  vomit,  and 
went  on  in  ways  of  iin. 

"  Indeed  I  was  at  fome  times  very  uneafy,  efpecialiy 
towards  the  latter  part  of  the  time  of  my  being  at  colleo-e. 
Till  it  pleafed  God,  in  my  lafl:  year  at  college,  at  a  time 
when  I  was  in  the  midft  of  many  uneafy  thoughts  about 
the  ftate  of  my  foul,  to  feize  me  with  a  pleurifv ;  in  which 
he  brought  me  nigh  to  the  grave,  and  fliook  me  over  the 
pit  of  hell. 

"  But  yet,  it  was  not  long  after  my  recovery,  before  I 
fell  again  into  my  old  ways  of  fm.     But  God  would  not 
fufFer  me  to  go  on  with  any  quietnefs ;   for  I  had  great  and 
violent    inward   ftrugglcs :    till   after  many   conflids  with, 
wicked  inclinations,   and  repeated  refolutions,  and  bonds 
that  I  laid  myfelf  under  by  a  kind  of  vows  to  God,  I  was 
brought  wholly  to  break  off  all  former  wicked  ways,  and 
all  ways  of  known   outvs^ard  fm,  and  to  apply  myfelf  to 
fcek  my  falvntion  and  pradife  the  duties  of  religion  ;   but 
without  that  kind  of  affe6lion  and  delight  that  I  had  for- 
merly experienced.     My  concern  now  wrought  more  by 
inward  ftruggles  and  confiids,  and  felf-refle6lions :  I  made 
feeking  my  falvation  the  main  bufmefs  of  my  life  ;   but  yet 
it  feems  to  me,   I  fought  after  a  miferable  manner ;  which 
has  made  me  fometimes  fmce  to  queftion,  whether  ever  it 
iffued   in  that  which   was  faving  ;  being  ready  to  doubt, 
whether  fuch  miferable  feeking  was  ever  fucceeded.     But 
yet  I  was  brought  to  feek  falvation  in  a  manner  that  I  never 
was  before  ;  I  felt  a  fpirit  to  part  with  all  things  in  the  world 
for  an  intereft  in  Chrift.     My  concern  continued  and  pre- 
vailed, with  many  exercifing  thoughts  and  inward  ftruggles ; 
but  yet  it  never  feemed  to  be  proper  to  exprefs  my  concern 
that  I  had,  by  the  name  of  terror. 

*'  From    my  childhood   up,  my  mind  had  been  wont 
to  be   full  of   objeaions    againft    the   doarine  of   God's 

D  fove- 


i6  THE    LIFE    OFTHE 

fovereignty,  in  choofing  whom  he  would  to  eternal 
life,  and  rejeiting  v/hom  he  pleafed;  leaving  them 
eternally  to  periih It  ufed  to  ap- 
pear like  a  horrible  do6lrine  to  me ;  but  I  remember 
the  time  very  well,  when  I  feemed  to  be  convinced,  and 
fully  fatisfied,  as  to  this  fovereignty  of  God,  and  his  juf- 
tice  in  thus  eternally  difpofing  of  men  according  to  his 
fovereign  pleafure ;  but  never  could  give  an  account  how, 
or  by  what  means,  I  was  thus  convinced ;  not  in  the 
leaft  imagining,  in  the  time  ot  it,  nor  a  long  time  after, 
that  there  was  any  extraordinary  influence  of  God's  Spi- 
rit in  it ;  but  only  that  now  I  faw  farther,  and  my  reafon 
apprehended  the  jufticc  and  reafonablenefs  of  it.  How- 
ever, my  mind  relied  in  it ;  and  it  put  an  end  to  all  thofe 
cavils  and  obje6lions  that  had  till  then  abode  with  me  all 
the  preceding  part  of  my  life.  But  I  have  oftentimes, 
lince  that  firft  conviftion,  had  quite  another  kind  of  fenfe 
of  God's  fovereignty  than  I  had  tlien.  I  have  often 
fince,  not  only  had  a  conviction,  but  a  dellghtfiil  con- 
yiftion.  The  do6lrine  cf  God's  fovereignty  has  very 
often  appeared  an  exceeding  pleafant,  bright,  and  fweet 
do6lrine  to  me  ;  and  abfolute  fovereignty  is  what  I  love 
to  afcribe  to  God.  But  my  firfl  conviction  was  not 
with  this." 

Tills  part  of  our  excellent  Author's  experience  reminds 
us  of  the  feventeeth  Article  of  the  Church'  of  England, 
which  afferts,  that  "  The  godly  confideration  ot  prcdef- 
tination,  and  of  our  ele6llon  in  Chrill:,  is  full  of  fweet, 
pleafant,  and  tmfpeakable  comfort  to  godly  perfons." 
Such  indeed  liave  many  found  it;  but  let  it  be  remem- 
bered, it  is  only  the  godly  conjidcration  of  predeftination 
that  is  thus  comfortable;  that  this  mufl:  be  conne6led 
with  the  evidence  of  our  ele5l'ion  in  Chrift,  and  that  to 
godly  perfons  only  is  this  contemplation  fweet  and  profit- 
able; to  others  it  may  be  dangerous,  and  it  mull  be  pain- 
ful. An  amiable  divine  has  obferved,  "  That  none 
fliould  go  to  the  unlverfity  of  Predeflinatlon,  until  they 
have  been  at  the  grammar  fchool"  of  Faith  and  Repent- 
ance." 

'«  The 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  17 

''  The  firfl:  that  I  remember  that  ever  I  found  any  thing 
of  that  fort  of  inward  fvveet  dehght  in  God  and  divine 
things,  that  I  have  lived  much  in  fmce,  was  on  reading 
thofe  words,  [i   Tim.  i.  17.]    '  Now  unto  the  King  etcr- 

*  nal,  immortal,  invifihle,  the  only  wife  God,  be  honour 

*  and  glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen.'  As  I  read  the 
words,  there  came  into  my  foul,  and  was  as  it  were  dif- 
fufed  through  it,  a  fenfe  of  the  glory  of  the  Divine  Being  ; 

quite  different  from  any  thing  I  ever  expe- 
rienced before.  Never  any  words  of  fcripture  feemcd  to 
me  as  thefe  words  did.  I  thought  with  myfelf,  how  ex- 
cellent a  Being  that  was,  and  how  happy  I  fliould  be,  if  I 
might  enjoy  that  God,  and  be  wrapt  up  to  God  in  heaven, 
and  be  as  it  were  fwallowed  up  in  him,  I  kept  faying, 
and  as  it  were  fmging  over  thefe  words  of  fcripture  to 
myfelf;  and  went  to  prayer,  to  pray  to  God  that  I  might 
enjoy  him  •,  and  prayed  in  a  manner  quite  different  from 
what  I  ufed  to  do;  with  a  new  fort  of  affe6lion ;  but  it 
never  came  into  my  thought  that  there  was  any  thing  fpi ri- 
tual or  of  a  faving  nature  in  this. 

*'  From  about  that  time,  I  began  to  have  a  new  kind 
of  apprehenfions  and  ideas  of  Chrift,  and  the  work  of  re- 
demption, and  the  glorious  way  of  falvation  by  him.  I 
had  an  inward  fweet  fenfe  of  thefe  things,  that  at  times 
came  into  my  heart,  and  my  foul  was  led  away  in  plea- 
fant  views  and  contemplations  of  them  ;  and  my  mind 
was  greatly  engaged  to  fpend  my  time  in  reading  and  me- 
ditating on  Chrift,  and  the  beauty  and  excellency  of  his 
perfon,  and  the  lovely  way  of  falvation  by  free  grace  in 
him.  I  found  no  books  fo  delightful  to  me,  as  thofe  that 
treated  of    thefe  fubje6ls.       Thofe   words,    [Cant,  ii,  i,] 

*  ufed  to  be  abundantly  with  me,  '  I  am  the  rofe  of  Sharon, 
'  and  the  lily  of  the  vallies.'  The  words  feemed  to  me 
fweetly  to  reprefent  the  lovelinefs  and  beauty  of  Jefus 
Chrift.  And  the  whole  book  of  Canticles  ufed  to  be  plea- 
iant  to  me,  and  I  ufed  to  be  much  in  reading  it  about 
that  time ;  and  found,  from  time  to  time,  an  inward 
Iweetnefs  that  ufed,  as  if  were,  to  carry  me  away  in  my 
contemplations.       The    fenfe    I    had   of    divine    things, 

D  2  would 


i8  THE     LIFE     OFTHE 

would  often  of  a  fudden,  as  it  were,  kindle  up  a  fwect 
burning  in  my  heart,  an  ardour  of  my  foul,  that  I  know 
not  how  to  exprefs. 

"  After  this  my  fenfe  of  divine  tilings  gradually  in- 
creafed,  and  became  more  and  more  lively,  and  had  more, 
of  that  inward  fweetnefs.  The  appearance  of  every  thing 
was  altered;  there  feemed  to  be,  as  it  were,  a  calm,  fweet 
cafl:  or  appearance  of  divine  glory,  in  almoft  every  thing. 
God's  excellency,  his  wifdom,  his  purity  and  love,  feemed 
to  appear  in  every  thing  ;  in  the  fun,  moon,  and  flats  ; 
in  the  clouds,  and  blue  iky ;  in  the  gtafs,  flowers,  trees ; 
in  the  water,  and  all  nature ;  which  ufed  greatly  to  fix 
my  mind.  I  often  ufed  to  fit  and  view  the  moon  for  a 
long  time  :  and  fo  in  the  day-time  fpent  much  time  in 
viewing  the  clouds  and  iky,  to  behold  the  fweet  glory  of 
God  in  thefe  things ;  in  the  mean  time  fmging  forth, 
with  a  low  voice,  my  contemplations  of  the  Creator  and 
Redeemer :  and  fcarce  any  thing,  among  all  the  works  of 
nature,  was  fo  fweet  to  me  as  thunder  and  lightning; 
formerly,  nothing  had  been  fo  terrible  to  me.  I  ufed  to 
be  a  perfon  uncommonly  terrified  with  thunder,  and  it 
ufed  to  ftrike  me  with  terror  when  I  faw  a  thunder-ftorm 
rifing:  but  now,  on  the  contrary,  it  rejoiced  me.  I  felt 
God  at  the  firft  appearance  of  a  thunder-ftorm,  and  uled 
to  take  the  opportunity,  at  fuch  tiiues,  to  fix  myfelf  to 
view  the  clouds,  and  fee  the  lightnings  play,  and  hear, the 
majeftic  and  av^^ful  voice  of  God's  thunder,  which  often- 
times was  exceedingly  entertaining,  leading  me  to  Iweet 
contemplations  of  my  great  and  glorious  God  ;  and  while 
I  viewed,  ufed  to  fpend  my  time,  as  it  always  feemed 
natural  to  me,  to  ling  or  chant  forth  my  meditations; 
to  fpeak  my  thoughts  in  foliloquies,  and  fpeak  with  a 
fmging  voice. 

"  I  felt  tlicn  a  great  fatisfaflion  as  to  my  good  eftate  ; 
but  that  did  not  content  me.  I  had  vehement  longings 
of  foul  al"tcr  God  and  Chrift,  anxl  after  more  holinefs, 
wherewith  my  heart  feemed  to  be  full,  and  ready  to 
break  ;  which  often  brought  to  my  mind  the  words  of 
the  Pfalmift,   [Pfa.  cxix.  28.]     *  My  foul  brcaketh  for  the 

'  lonoing 


REV.    JONATHAN    EDWARDS.  19 

♦  longing  it  hath.'  I  often  felt  a  mourning  and  lament- 
ing in  my  heart,  that  I  had  not  turned  to  God  fooner, 
that  I  might  have  had  more  time  to  grow  in  grace.  My 
mind  was  greatly  fixed  on  divine  things  ;  I  was  almofi: 
perpetually  in  the  contemplation  of  them  :  fpent  moft  ot 
my  time  in  thinking  of  divine  things,  year  after  year; 
and  ufed  to  fpend  abundance  of  my  time  in  walking  alone 
in  the  woods  and  folitary  places  for  meditation,  folilo- 
quy,  and  prayer,  and  converfe  with  God  :  and  it  was  al- 
ways my  manner,  at  fuch  times,  to  fing  forth  my  con- 
templations ;  and  was  almoft  conftantly  in  ejaculatory 
prayer  wherever  I  was.  Prayer  feemed  to  be  natural  to 
me,  as  the  breath  by  which  the  inward  burnings  of  my 
heart  had  vent. 

"  The  delights  which  I  now  felt  in  things  of  religion 
were  of  an  exceeding  different  kind  from  thofe  fore-men- 
tioned, that  I  had  when  I  was  a  boy;  they  were  totally 
of  another  kind  ;  and  what  I  then  had  no  more  notion 
or  idea  of,  than  one  born  blind  has  of  pleafant  and  beau- 
tiful colours:  they  were  of  a  more  inwaid,  pure,  foul- 
animatino;  and  refreflrins:  nature.  Thofe  former  delights 
never  reached  the  heart  ;  and  did  not  arife  from  any  fight 
of  the  divine  excellency  of  the  things  of  God;  or  any 
tafte  of  the  foul-fatisfying,  and  life-giving  good,  there  is 
in  them." 

Mr.  Edwards  mull  certainly  be  the  befl:  judge  of  his 
own  feelings  ;  but  we  have  fometimes  queried  whether 
our  author  and  fomc  other  excellent  men  have  not  erred 
in  imputing  their  hrft  convi6tion  and  early  experience  in 
religion  to  fome  other  caufe,  which  ought  rather  to  be 
attributed  to  the  agency  of  the  Divine  S{)irit.  It  certainly 
does  not  follow,  that  becaufe  our  firft  views  of  divine 
things  are  lefs  clear,  and  our  firft  religious  affecllons  lefs 
ipirltual,  than  afterwards,  that  they  do  not  proceed  from 
the  famecauie.  The  early  beamings  of  the  dawn,  and  the 
noon-tide  fun  beams,  though  they  differ  immenfely  in 
their  degree  ot  light  and  heat,  are  certainly  of  the  fame 
nature,  and  proceed  from  the  fame  caufe.  When  our  Lord 
ilrft  anointed  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man,   [Mark  viii.  24.I 

he 


30  THELIFEOFTHE 

he  faw  *  Men  as  trees  walking  ;'  but  when  he  put  his  hands 
on  him  again,  '  he  faw  every  man  clearly  ;'  yet  bv  the  fame 
hands  were  both  effe6ls  prodviced,  and  to  the  fame  Redeemer 
was  the  glory  of  both  due. 

**  My  fenfe  of  divine  things  feemed  gradually  to  in- 
creafe,  till  I  went  to  preach  at  New  York,  which  was 
about  a  year  and  a  half  after  they  began.  While  I  was 
there,  I  felt  them,  very  fenfibly,  in  a  much  higher  de- 
gree than  I  had  done  before  :  my  longings  after  God  and 
holinefs  were  much  increafed ;  pure  and  humble,  holy 
and  heavenly  chriftianity,  appeared  exceeding  amiable  to 
me.  I  felt  in  me  a  burning  defire  to  be  in  every  thing  a 
complete  Cliriflian ;  and  conformed  to  the  bleffed  image 
of  Chrift  ;  and  that  I  might  live  in  all  things  according 
to  the  pure,  fwcet,  and  bleffed  rules  of  the  gofpel.  I  had 
an  eager  thirfting  after  progrefs  in  thefe  things  ;  my  long- 
ings after  it  put  me  upon  purfuing  and  preffing  after  tbem. 
It  was  my  continual  ftrife  day  and  night,  and  conflant 
inquiry,  how  I  fliould  be  more  holy,  and  live  more  ho- 
lily,  and  more  becoming  a  child  of  God,  and  difciple  of 
Chrift.  I  fought  an  increafe  of  prace  and  holinefs,  and 
that  I  might  live  an  holy  life,  with  vaftly  more  earneft- 
nefs  than  ever  I  fought  grace,  before  I  had  it.  I  ufed 
to  be  continually  examining  myfelf,  and  ftudying  and 
contriving  for  likely  ways  and  means  how' I  Jhould  live 
holily,  with  far  greater  diligence  and  earneftnefs  than 
ever  I  purfued  any  thing  in  my  life  ;  but  with  too  great  a 
dependence  on  my  own  ftrength,  which  afterwards  proved 
a  great  damage  to  me.  My  experience  had  not  then 
taught  me,  as  it  has  done  fmce,  my  extreme  fecblcnefs 
and  impotence,  every  manner  of  way ;  and  the  innumer- 
able and  bottomlefs  depths  of  fccret  corruption  and  deceit 
that  there  were  in  my  heart.  Hov>ever,  I  went  on  with 
my  eager  purfuit  after  more  holinefs,  and  fweet  confor- 
mity to  Chrift. 

"  The  heaven    I  deftred  was  a  heaven  of  holinets  ;  to 
be  with  God,  and  to  fpend  my  eternity  in  divine  love,  and 
holy  communion  with  Chrift.     My  mind  was  very  much 
taken  up  with  contemplations  on  heaven,    and  the  enjoy- 
ments 


REV.    JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  21 

ments  of  thofc  there ;  and  living  there  in  perfe6l  holinefs, 
humiHty.  and  love.  And  it  ufed  at  that  time  to  appear  a 
great  part  of  the  happinefs  of  heaven,  that  there  the  faints 
could  exprefs  their  love  to  Chrift.  It  appeared  to  me  a 
great  clog  and  hindrance,  and  burden  to  mc  that  what  J 
felt  within,  I  could  not  exprefs  to  God,  and  give  vent  to, 
as  I  defired:  the  inward  ardour  of  my  foul  feemed  to  be 
hindered  and  pent  up,  and  could  not  freely  flame  out  as 
it  would.  I  ufed  often  to  think  how  in  heaven  this  fweet 
principle  fhould  freely  and  fully  vent  and  exprefs  itfelf. 
Heaven  appeared  to  me  exceeding  delightful  as  a  world  of 
love.  It  appeared  to  me  that  all  happinefs  confified  in  living 
in  pvire,  humble,  heavenly,  divine  love. 

*'  I  remember  the  thoughts  I  ufed  then  to  have  of  ho- 
linefs. I  remember  I  then  faid  fometimes  to  myfelf,  I  do 
certainly  know  that  I  love  holinefs,  fuch  as  the  gofpel  pre- 
fcribcs  ;  it  appeared  to  me,  there  was  nothing  in  it  but 
what  was  ravifhingly  lovely :  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  the 
highefl:  beauty  and  amiablenefs,  above  all  other  beauties, 
that  it  was  a  divine  beauty,  far  purer  than  any  thing  here 
upon  earth ;  and  that  every  thing  elfe  was  like  mire,  filth, 
and  defilement,  in  comparifon  of  it. 

*'  Holinefs,  as  I  then  wrote  down  fomc  of  my  con- 
templations on  it,  appeared  to  me  to  be  of  a  fweet,  pleafant, 
charming,  ferene,  calm  nature  ;  it  feemed  to  me,  it  brouphr 
an  inexpreflible  purity,  brightnefs,  peacefulnefs,  and  ra- 
vifhment,  to  the  foul  ;  and  that  it  made  the  foul  like  a 
field  or  garden  of  God,  with  all  manner  of  pleafant  flow- 
ers, that  is  all  pleafant,  delightful,  and  undiflurbed  ;  en- 
joying a  fweet  calm,  and  the  gentle  vivifying  beams  of  the 
fun.  The  foul  of  a  true  Chriflian,  as  I  then  wrote  my 
meditations,  appeared  like  fuch  a  little  white  flower  as 
we  fee  in  the  fpring  of  the  year,  low  and  humble  on  the 
ground,  opening  its  bofora  to  receive  the  pleafant  beams 
of  the  fun's  glory  ;  rejoicing,  as  it  were,  in  a  calm  rap- 
ture, difFufing  around  a  fvv^eet  fragrancy,  flanding  peace- 
fully and  lovingly  in  the  midfi:  of  other  flowers  round 
about ;  all  in  like  mamier  opening  their  bofoms  to  drink  in 


the  light  of  the  fun. 


"  There 


23  THE     LIFE     OFTHE 

"  There  was  no  part  of  creature-holinefs  that  I  then,' 
and  at  other  times,  had  fo  great  a  fenfe  of  the  lovelincfs 
of,  as  humility,  brokennefs  of  heart,  and  poverty  of  fpi- 
rit ;  and  there  was  nothing  that  I  had  fuch  a  fpirit  to 
long  for.  My  heart,  as  it  were,  panted  after  this,  to  lie 
low  before  God,  and  in  the  dull:,  tliat  I  might  be  no- 
thing, and  that  God  mig];t  be  all ;  that  I  might  become  as 
a  little  child. 

"  While  I  was  there,  at  New  York,  I  fometimes  was" 
much  affected  with  refledlions  on  my  paft  life,  confider- 
ing  how  late  it  was  before  I  began  to  be  truly  religious, 
and  how  wickedly  I  had  lived  till  then  ;  and  once  fo,  as 
to  weep  abundantly,  and  for  a  conluierable  time  toge- 
ther. 

"  On  January  12,  1722-3,  I  made  a  folemn  dedica- 
tion of  myfelf  to  God  ;  and  wrote  it  down ;  giving  up 
myfelf  and  ail  that  I  had  to  God;  to  be  for  the  future  in 
no  refpe6t  my  own ;  to  adl  as  one  that  had  no  right  to 
himfelf  in  any  refpecl ;  and  folemnly  vowed  to  take  God 
for  my  whole  portion  and  felicity  ;  looking  on  nothing 
elfe  as  any  part  of  my  happinefs,  nor  a6ling  as  if  it  were  ; 
and  his  law  for  the  conflant  rule  of  my  obedience,  en- 
gaging to  fight  with  all  my  might  againft  the  world,  the 
fiefh,  and  the  devil,  to  the  end  of  my  life.  But  have  reafon 
to  be  infinitely  humbled,  when  I  confider  how  much  I  have 
failed  of  anfwcring  my  obligation. 

"  I  had  then  abundance  of  fweet  religious  converfation 
In  the  family  where  I  lived,  with  Mr.  John  Smith,  and  his 
pious  mother.  My  heart  was  knit  in  affection  ro  thofe,  in 
whom  were  appearances  of  true  piety  ;  and  I  could  bear  the 
thoughts  of  no  other  companions,  but  fuch  as  were  holy, 
and  the  difciples  of  the  bleifed  Jefus. 

*'  I  had  great  longings  for  the  advancement  of  Chrift's 
kingdom  in  the  world;  mv  fecret  prayer  ufed  to  be  in 
great  part  taken  up  in  praying  for  it.  If  I  heard  the 
leaft  hint  of  any  thing  that  happened  in  any  part  of  the 
world,  that  appeared  to  me,  in  fome  refpe6l  or  other,  to 
have  a  favourable  afpeft  on  the  iutereft  of  Chrifl's  king- 
dom, my  foul  eagerly   catchcd  at  it.  and  it  would  much 

animate 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  23 

animate  and  refrefli  me.  I  ufed  to  be  carneft  to  read  pub- 
lic news  letters,  mainly  for  that  end,  to  fee  if  I  could  not 
find  fome  news  favourable  to  the  intereft  of  religion  in  the 
world. 

*'  I  very  frequently  ufed  to  retire  into  a  folitary  place 
on  the  banks  of  Hudfon's  River,  at  fome  diflance  from  the 
city,  for  contemplation  on  divine  things,  and  fecret  con- 
verfe  with  God ;  and  had  many  fvveet  hours  there.  Some- 
times Mr.  Smith  and  T  walked  there  together,  to  converfe 
of  the  things  of  God  ;  and  our  converfation  ufed  much  to 
turn  on  the  advancement  of  Chrift's  kingdom  in  the  world, 
and  the  glorious  things  that  God  would  accomplish  for  his 
church  in  the  latter  days. 

*'  I  had  then,  and  at  other  times,  the  greateft  delight 
in  the  holy  fcriptures  of  any  book  whatfoever;  often- 
times in  reading  it,  every  word  feemed  to  touch  my 
heart,  I  felt  a  harmony  between  fomething  in  my  heart, 
and  thofe  fweet  and  powerful  words :  I  feemed  often  to 
fee  fo  much  light  exhibited  by  every  fentence,  and  fuch 
a  refrefliing  ravifhing  food  communicated,  that  I  could 
not  get  along  in  reading:  ufed  oftentimes  to  dwell  long 
on  one  fentence,  to  fee  the  wonders  contained  in  it ; 
and  yet  almoft  every  fentence  feemed  to  be  full  of  won- 
ders. 

"  I  came  away  from  New  York  in  the  month  of 
April  1723,  and  had  a  mofi:  bitter  parting  with  Madam 
Smith  and  her  fon  :  my  heart  feemed  to  fink  within  me^ 
at  leaving  the  family  and  city,  where  I  had  enjoyed  fo 
many  fweet  and  pleafant  days.  I  went  from  New  York 
to  Weathersfield  by  water.  As  I  failed  away,  I  kept 
fight  of  the  city  as  long  as  I  could,  and  when  I  was  out 
of  fight  of  it,  it  would  affeS:  me  much  to  look  that  way, 
with  a  kind  of  melancholly  mixed  with  fweetnefs.  How- 
ever that  night,  after  this  forrowful  parting,  I  was  greatly 
comforted  in  God  at  Welkhefter,  where  we  went  aihore 
to  lodge,  and  had  a  pleafant  time  of  it  all  the  voyage  to 
Saybrook.  It  was  fweet  to  me  to  think  of  meeting  dear 
Chrillians  in  heaven,  where  we  Ihould  never  part  more. 
At  Saybrook  went  aOiore  to  lodge  on  Saturday,  and  there 

E  kept- 


24  THELIFEOFTHE 

kept  Sabbath  ;  where  I  had  a  fweet  and  refreihing  feafon, 
walking  alone  in  the  fields. 

*'  After  I  came  home  to  Windfor,  remained  much  in 
a  like  frame  of  mind  as  I  had  been  in  at  New  York,  but 
only  fometimes  felt  my  heart  ready  to  fink,  with  the 
thoughts  of  my  friends  at  New  York  ;  and  my  refuge 
and  fupport  was  in  contemplations  on  the  heavenly  ftate, 
as  I  find  in  my  Diary,  of  May  i,  1723.  It  was  my 
comfort  to  think  of  that  ftate,  where  there  is  fulnefs  of 
joy  ;  where  reigns  heavenly,  fweet,  calm,  and  delightful 
love,  without  alloy ;  where  there  are  continually  the 
deareft  expreffions  of  this  love  ;  where  is  the  enjoyment 
of  the  perfons  loved,  without  ever  parting;  where  thefe 
perfons  that  appear  fo  lovely  in  this  world,  will  really  be 
inexprcfllbly  more  lovely,  and  full  of  love  to  us.  And 
how  fweetly  will  the  mutual  lovers  join  together  to  fing 
the  praifes  of  God  and  the  Lamb  !  How  full  will  it  fill 
us  with  joy  to  think  that  this  enjoyment,  thefe  fweet 
exercifes,  will  never  ceafe  or  come  to  an  end,  but  will 
lafl  to  all  eternity  ! 

"  Continued  much  in  the  fame  frame  in  the  general, 
that  I  had  been  in  at  New  York,  till  I  went  to  New 
Haven,  to  live  there  as  tutor  of  the  college ;  having  one 
fpecial  feafon  of  uncommon  fweetnefs,  particularly  once 
at  Bolton,  in  a  journey  from  Bofl:on,  walking  out  alone  in 
the  fields.  After  J.  went  to  New  Haven  I  funk  in  religion, 
my  mind  being  diverted  from  my  eager  and  violent  pur- 
fuits  after  holinefs,  by  fome  affairs  that  greatly  perplexed 
and  diftrailed  my  mind. 

"  In  September  1725,  was  taken  ill  at  New  Haven, 
and  endeavouring  to  go  home  to  Windfor,  was  fo  ill  at 
the  North  Village,  that  I  could  go  no  further ;  where  I 
lay  fick  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  year.  And,  in  this  fick- 
nefs,  God  was  pleafed  to  vifit  me  again  with  the  fweet 
influences  of  his  Spirit.  My  mind  was  greatly  engaged 
there  on  divine,  pleafant  contemplations,  and  longings 
of  foul.  I  obferved,  that  thofe  who  watched  with  mc 
would  often  be  looking  out  for  the  morning,  and  feemed 
to  wiili  for  it  J  which  brought  to  my  mind  thofe  words 

of 


REV.    JONATHAN    EDWARDS.  25 

of  the  Pfalmift,  which  my  foul  with  fweetnefs  made  its 
own  language,  '  My  foul  waiteth  for  the  Lord,  more  than 
<  they  that  watch  for  the  morning,  I  fay,  more  than  they 
«  that  watch  for  the  morning.'  And  when  the  light  of 
the  morning  came,  and  the  beams  of  the  fun  came  in  at 
the  windows,  it  refrellied  my  foul  from  one  morning  to 
another :  it  feemed  to  me  to  be  fome  image  of  the  fweet 
light  of  God's  glory. 

««  I  remember,  about  that  time,  I  nfed  greatly  to  long 
for  the  converfion  of  fome  that  I  was  concerned  with.  It 
feemed  to  me  I  could  gladly  honour  them,  and  with  delight 
be  a  fervant  to  them,  'and  lie  at  their  feet,  if  they  were  but 
truly  holy. 

*'  But  fome  time  after  this,  I  was  again  greatly  diverted 
in  my  mind  with  fome  temporal  concerns,  that  exceedingly 
took  up  my  thoughts,  greatly  to  the  wounding  of  my  foul ; 
and  went  on  through  various  exercifes,  that  it  would  be 
tedious  to  relate ;  that  gave  mc  much  more  experience  of 
my  own  heart  than  ever  I  had  before. 

<<  Since  I  came  to  this  town,*  I  have  often  had  fweet 
complacency  in  God,  in  views  of  his  glorious  perfeaions, 
and  the  excellency  of  Jefus  Chrift.  God  has  appeared  to 
me,  a  glorious  and  lovely  being,  chiefly  on  the  account 
of  his  holinefs.  The  holinefs  of  God  has  always  appeared 
to  me  the  moft  lovely  of  all  his  attributes.  The  dodrines 
of  God's  abfolute  fovereignty-  and  free  grace,  in  Ihewing 
mercy  to  whom  he  would  lliew  mercy,  and  man's  abfolute 
dependence  on  the  operations  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  have 
very  often  appeared  to  me  as  fweet  and  glorious  dodrines. 
Thefc  doftrines  have  been  much  my  delight :  God's  fo- 
vereignty has  ever  appeared  to  me  as  great  part  of  his 
glory  i  it  has  often  been  fweet  to  me  to  go  to  God,  and 
adore  him  as  a  fovereign  God,  and  alk  fovereign  mercy 
of  him. 

«'  I  have  loved  the  dodrines  of  the  gofpel;  they  have 
been  to  my  foul  like  green  paftures :  the  gofpel  has  feemed 
to  me  to  be  the  richefl  treafure ;  the  treafure  that  I  have 

E  2  moft 

*  Northampton. 


26  THELIFEOFTHE 

moildefired,  and  longed  that  it  might  dwell  richly  in  me. 
The  wav  of  falvation  by  Chrill  has  appeared  in  a  general 
way,  glorious  and  excellent,  and  moft  pleafant  and  moft 
beautiful.  It  has  often  feemed  to  me  that  it  would,  in  a 
great  meafure,  fpoil  heaven,  to  receive  it  in  any  other  way* 
That  text  has  often  been  afFe6ling  and  delightful  to  me, 
[Ifa.  xxxii.  2.]  '  A  man  fhall  be  an  hiding  place  from  the 
'  wind,  and  a  covert  from  the  tempeft,'  &c. 

"  It  has  often  appeared  fweet  to  me  to  be  united  to 
Chrlft;  to  have  him  for  my  head,  and  to  be  a  member 
of  his  body;  and  alfo  to  have  Chrift  for  my  teacher  and 
prophet.     I  very  often  think,    with  fweetnefs    and   long- 
ings, and  pantings  of  foul,  of  being  a  little  child,  taking 
hold  of  Chrift,  to  be  led   by  him  through  the  wildernefs 
of  this  world.     That  text,  [Matt,  xviii.]  at  the  beginning, 
has  often  been  fweet  to  me,  '   Except  ye  be  converted,  and 
<  become  as  little  children,'  &c.     I  love  to  think  of  com- 
ing to   Chrift  to  receive  falvation  of  him,  poor  in  fpirit, 
and  quite  empty  of  felf ;  humbly  exalting  him  alone  ;    cut 
entirely  off  from   my  own  root,  and  to  grow  into,    and 
out  of  Chrift  :  to   have   God   in   Chrift  to  be  all  in  all ; 
and  to  live  by   faith  on  the  Son  of  God,  a  life  of  humble, 
unfeigned  confidence  in  him.     That   fcripture  has  often 
been  fweet  to  me,  [Pfa.  cxv.  i.]   '   Not  unto  us,   O  Lord, 
'  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  give  glory, -for  thy  mercy 
'  and   for  thy  truth's  fake.'     And  thofe    words  of  Chrift, 
[Luke  x.  21.]   '   In  that  hour  Jefus  rejoiced  in  fpirit,    and 
*  faid,  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,   Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
'  that  thou   haft  hid   thefe  things   from  the  wife  and  pru- 
'  dent,  and  haft  revealed  them   unto  babes ;  even  fo,   Fa- 
'  ther,  for  fo  it   feemed  good  in  thy  fight.'     That  fove- 
leignty  of  God  that   Chrift  rejoiced  in,  feemed  to  me  to 
be  worthy   to  be  rejoiced  in ;   and  that  rejoicing  of  Chrift 
feemed  to  me  to  Ihew   the  excellency  of  Chrift,  and  the 
fpirit  that  he  was  oi. 

"  The  fweeteft  joys  and  delights  I  have  experienced, 
have  not  been  thofe  that  have  arifen  from  a  hope  of  my 
own  good  eftate,  but  in  a  diredl*  view  of  the  glorious 
things   of  the  gofpel.     When  I   enjoy   this  fweetnefs,  it 

fcems 


REV.    JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  27 

fecms  to  carry  mc  above  the  thoughts  of  my  own  fafc 
cftate :  it  feems  at  fuch  times  a  lofs  that  I  cannot  bear  to 
take  off  my  eye  from  the  glorious,  pleafant  objedl  I  behold 
without  me,  to  turn  my  eye  in  upon  mylelf,  and  my  own 
good  eftate." 

Such  remarks  abound  in  the  writings  of  the  New  Eng- 
land divines ;  and  we  have  no  right  to  deny  what  they  affert 
upon  their  own  experience.  But  when  this  attainment 
is  made  the  teft  of  Chriftianity,  and  the  criterion  of  true 
grace,  we  muft  oppofe  it.  It  is  '  the  love  of  God  ilied 
'  abroad  in  our  hearts'  that  muft  enkindle  our  firft  affec- 
tions to  him.  And  the  moft  dear  and  affe6lionate  apoftle 
afferts,  that  '  We  love  him  becaufe  he  firft  loved  us.' 
[i  John  iv.  19.] 

"  My  heart  has  been  much  on  the  advancement  of 
Chrift's  kingdom  in  the  world  ;  the  hiftories  of  the  paft 
advancement  of  Chrift's  kingdom  have  been  fweet  to  me. 
When  I  have  read  hiftories  of  paft  ages,  the  pleafanteft 
thing  in  all  my  reading  has  been,  to  read  of  the  kingdom 
of  Chrift  being  promoted  :  and  when  I  have  expe6led  in 
my  reading  to  come  to  any  fuch  thing,  I  have  lotted  upon 
it  all  the  way  as  I  read ;  and  my  mind  has  been  much  en- 
tertained and  delighted  with  the  fcripture  promifes  and 
prophecies  of  the  future  glorious  advancement  of  Chrift's 
kingdom  on  earth. 

*'  I  have  fomctimcs  had  a  fenfe  of  the  excellent  ful- 
ncfs  of  Chrift,  and  his  meetnefs  and  fuitablenefs  as  a 
Saviour,  whereby  he  has  appeared  to  me,  far  above  all, 
the  chiet  of  ten  thoufands  :  and  his  blood  and  atonement 
has  appeared  fweet,  and  his  righteoufnefs  fweet ;  which  is 
always  accompanied  with  an  ardency  of  fpirit,  and  inward 
ftrugglings,  and  breathings,  and  groanings,  that  cannot 
be  uttered,  to  be  emptied  of  myfelf,  and  fwallowcd  up  in 
Chrift. 

"  Once,  as  I  rode  out  in  the  woods  for  my  health, 
Anno  1737,  and  having  lighted  from  my  horfe  in  a  re- 
tired place,  as  my  manner  commonly  has  been,  to  walk 
for  divine  contemplation  and  prayer,  J.  had  a  view,  that 
for   me   was   extraordinary,  of  the  glory   of  the   Son   of 

God, 


28  THELIFEOFTHE 

God,  as  mediator  between  God  and  man ;  and  his  won- 
derful, great,  full,  pure,  and  fvveet  grace  and  love,  and 
meek  and  gentle  condefcenfion.  This  grace,  that  ap- 
peared to  me  fo  calm  and  fweet,  appeared  great  above  the 
heavens  :  the  perfon  of  Chrift  appeared  ineffably  excel- 
lent, with  an  excellency  great  enough  to  fwallow  up  all 
thought  and  conception,  which  continued,  as  near  as  I 
can  judge,  about  an  hour,  which  kept  me  the  bigger  part 
of  the  time  in  a  flood  of  tears,  and  weeping  aloud.  I  felt 
withal  an  ardency  of  foul  to  be,  what  I  know  not  other- 
wife  how  to  cxprefs,  than  to  be  emptied  and  annihilated, 
to  lie  in  the  duft,  and  to  be  full  of  Chrift  alone ;  to  love 
him  with  a  holy  and  pure  love ;  to  truft  in  him  ;  to  live 
upon  him ;  to  ferve  and  follow  him ;  and  to  be  totally 
wrapt  up  in  the  fulnefs  of  Chrift ;  and  to  be  perfe6lly 
faudified  and  made  pure,  with  a  divine  and  heavenly  pu- 
rity. T  have  feveral  other  times  had  views  very  much  of 
the  fame  nature,  and  that  have  had  the  fame  effeds. 

"  I  have  many  times  had  a  fenfe  of  the  glory  of  the 
third  perfon  in  the  Trinity,  in  his  office  of  San6lifier,  in 
his  holy  operations  communicating  divine  light  and  life 
to  the  foul.  God,  in  the  communications  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  has  appeared  as  an  infinite  fountain  of  divine  glory 
and  fweetnefs ;  being  full  and  fufficient  to  fill  and  fatisfy 
the  foul;  pouring  forth  itfelf  in  fweet  communications, 
like  the  fun  in  its  glory,  fweetly  and  pleafantly  diffufing 
light  and  life. 

<«  I  have  fometimes  had  an  affe6tlng  fenfe  of  the  excel- 
lency of  the  word  of  God,  as  a  word  of  life ;  as  the  light 
of  life  ;  a  fweet,  ericellent,  life-giving  word  ;  accompanied 
with  a  thirfting  after  that  word,  that  it  might  dwell  richly 
in  my  heart. 

"  I  have  often,  fince  1  lived  in  this  town,  had  very 
affeding  views  of  my  own  finfulnefs  and  vilenefs;  very 
frequently  fo  as  to  hold  me  in  a  kind  of  loud  weeping, 
fometimes  for  a  confiderable  time  together  :  fo  that  I  have 
often  been  forced  to  fnut  myfelf  up.  I  have  had  a  vaftly 
greater  fenfe  of  my  own  wickednefs,  and  the  badnels  of 
my  heart,  fmce  my  converfion,  than  ever  I  had  before. 


REV.    JONATHAN    EDWARDS.  29 

It  has  often  appeared  to  me,  that  if  God  fhoiild  mark 
iniquity  againft  me,  I  (hould  appear  the  very  worfl  of  all 
mankind,  of  all  that  have  been  fmce  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  this  time ;  and  that  I  Ihould  have  by  far  the  loweft 
place  in  hell. 

"  And  yet  I  am  not  in  the  leafl:  inclined  to  think,  that 
I  have  a  greater  convidlion  of  fm  than  ordinary  :  1  know 
certainly,  that  I  have  very  little  fenfe  of  my  fmfulnefs ; 
that  my  fms  appear  to  me  fo  great,  don't  feem  to  me  to  be, 
becaufe  I  have  fo  much  more  conviftion  of  fin  than  other 
Chriftians,  but  becaufe  I  am  fo  much  worfe,  and  have  fo 
much  more  wickednefs  to  be  convinced  of. 

*'  I  have  greatly  longed  of  late  for  a  broken  heart,  and 
to  lie  low  before  God.  And  when  I  afk  for  humility  of 
God,  I  can't  bear  the  thoughts  of  being  no  more  humble 
than  other  Chriftians.  It  feems  to  me,  that  though  their 
degrees  of  humility  may  be  fuitable  for  them,  yet  it  would 
be  a  vile  fclf-exaltation  in  me,  not  to  be  the  loweft  in  hu- 
mility of  all  mankind.  Others  fpeak  of  their  longing  to 
be  humbled  to  the  duft  :  though  that  may  be  a  proper 
expreffion  of  them,  I  always  think  for  myfelf,  that  I  ought 
to  be  humbled  down  below  hell.  It  is  an  expreffion  that 
it  has  long  been  natural  for  me  to  ufe  in  prayer  to  God. 
I  ought  to  lie  infinitely  low  before  God." 

On  this  fubjedl  Mr.  Edwards  feems  to  delight  in  hyper- 
boles: and  may  teach  us  this  remark,  that  true  grace  is  ex- 
ceedingly humbling.  It  taught  the  great  apoftle  to  efteem 
himfelf  the  '  chief  of  fmners,'  and  '  lefs  than  the  leaft  of 
«  all  faints.'  It  is  poffible,  however,  to  ufe  extravagant 
expreffions  on  any  fubjeft,  and  "  to  be  humbled  below 
hell,"  or  "  infinitely  low,"  may  be  thought  fuch.  The 
humble  and  amiable  Dr.  Watts  defined  humility  to  confill 
in  a  man's  having  "  a  juft  opinion  of  himfelf,"  not  a 
degrading  one.  Wc  are  all  fo  much  indebted  to  divine 
mercy,  that  there  feems  little  danger  of  hyperboles  on  that 
lubje£l ;  there  is  no  occafion  however  to  fmk  our  language 
below  the  poffibility  of  a  meaning. 

*«  I  have  vaftly  a  greater  fenfe  of  my  univerfU  exceed- 
ing dependence  on  God's  grace  and  ftrengtth,  and  mere 

eood 


30  THE     LIFE     OFTHE 

good  pleafure,  of  late,  than  I  ufed  formerly  to  h.ive ; 
and  have  experienced  more  of  an  abhorrence  of  my  own 
righteoufnefs.  The  thought  of  any  comfort  or  joy  arif- 
ing  in  me,  on  any  confideration,  or  refledHon  on  my 
own  amiablenefs,  or  any  of  my  performances  or  expe- 
riences, or  any  goodnefs  of  heart  or  life,  is  naufeous  and 
deteftable  to  me  ;  and  yet  I  am  greatly  affli6led  with  a 
proud  and  felf-righteous  fpirit,  much  more  fenfibly  than 
I  ufed  to  be  formerly:  I  fee  that  ferpent  rifing  and  put- 
ting forth  its  head  continually,  everywhere,  all  around 
me. 

*'  Though  it  feems  to  me,  that  in  fome  refpe6ls,  I  was 
a  far  better  Chriftian  for  two  or  three  years  after  my  lirft 
converfion  than  I  am  now,  and  lived  in  a  more  conftant 
delight  and  pleafure  ;  yet  of  late  years  I  have  had  a  more 
full  and  conftant  fenfe  of  the  abfolute  fovereignty  of  God, 
and  a  delight  in  that  fovereignty  ;  and  have  had  more  of 
a  fenfe  of  the  glory  of  Chrift,  as  a  mediator,  as  revealed 
in  the  gofpel.  On  one  Saturday  night,  in  particular, 
had  a  peculiar  difcovery  of  the  excellency  of  the  gofpel  ot 
Chrift,  above  all  other  do6lrines,  fo  that  I  could  not  but 
fay  to  myfelf,  '  This  is  my  chofen  light,  my  chofen  doc- 
*  trine  :'    and  of  Chrift,   '  This  is  my   chofen    prophet.' 

Another  Saturday  night  ....  had  fuch  a  fenfe 

how  fweet  and  blefled  a  thing  it  was,  to  walk  in  the  way 
of  duty,  that  it  caufed  me  to  cry  out,  <  How  happy  are 
'  they  which  do  that  which  is  right  in  the  fight  of  God  ! 
'  They  are  bleffed  indeed,  they  are  the  happy  ones !' 
I  had  at  the  fame  time  a  very  affecting  fenfe,  how  meet 
and  fuitable  it  was  that  God  ihould  govern  the  world, 
and  order  all  things  according  to  his  own  pleafure ;  and 
1  rejoiced  in  it,  that  God  reigned,  and  that  his  will  was 
done." 

Thus  clofes  the  extraordinary  experience  of  6ur  Au- 
thor, and  by  way  of  caution  to  fincere  but  inferior 
Chriftians,  we  beg  it  be  confidered  that  it  was  extraordi- 
nary \  that  few  Chriftians  have  arrived  to  equal  attain- 
meiits  in  the  divine  life,  particularly  as  to  a  fettled  ac- 
quiefcence  in  the  divine  will,  and  a  devotednefs  of  heart 

to 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  31 

to  the  Redeemer.  But  let  us  not  confider  his,  or  any 
man's  experience,  as  an  abfolute  criterion  to  try  the  fafety 
of  our  ftate,  or  the  truth  of  our  converfion.  The  word 
of  God  is  our  rule,  and  the  only  one  on  which  we  can 
rely  with  certainty.  There  are  as  many  degrees  of  growth 
in  grace,  as  in  nature  ;  the  beloved  apoftle  wrote  to  chil- 
dren, young  men,  and  fathers  in  Chrift.  And  there  is  no 
lefs  variety  in  the  manner  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  operation. 

*  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  lifteth,'  faith  our  divine 
teacher,    [John   iii.    8.]     '  and   thou    heareft   the   found 

*  thereof,  but  canft  not  tell  whence  it  cometh,  and  whi- 

*  ther  it  goeth ;  fo  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.' 
So  free,  fo  fovereign,  fo  multiform  and  incomprehcnfiblc, 
are  the  operations  of  divine  grace  ;  but  this  remark  is  not 
intended  to  induce  any  to  relt  fatisfied  in  their  prefent  at- 
tainments. It  is  not  only  the  duty  but  one  of  the  befl 
criteria,  of  a  true  Chrillian,  '  to  go  on  unto  perfedlion.' 
[Heb.  vi.  I.] 

We  (hall  detain  the  reader  with  only  one  other  remark 
on  the  preceding  narrative,  viz.  That  the  fubjeiSl  of  the 
fubfequent  work  [the  Hiftory  of  Redemption]  was  long 
one  of  our  author's  moft  favourite  topic's  of  reflection, 
*'  When  I  have  read,"  faith  he,  "  hiftories  of  pail:  ages, 
the  pleafanteft  thing  in  all  my  reading  has  been,  to  read 
of  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl  being  promoted,  ....  and 
my  mind  has  been  much  entertained  and  delighted  with 
the  fcripture  promifes  and  prophecies  of  the  future  glo- 
rious advancement  of  Chrift's  kingdom  on  earth."  And, 
what  is  very  obfervable,  he  even  objedVed  at  firfl:  to  ac- 
cept the  piefidentihip  of  New  Jerfey  College  for  this 
among  other  reafons— "  I  have  had  on  my  mind  and 
heart,  which  I  long  ago  began,  not  with  any  view  to  pub- 
lication, a  great  work,  which  J  call,  aHiJiory  of  the  Work 
of  Redemption,"  6cc.  [See  his  letter  to  the  truftees  of 
the  above  college,  dated  061.  19,  1757,  in  the  life  pre- 
fixed to  his  fcrmons,  p.  95.]  which  circumftance  is  alfo 
remarked  in  a  letter  of  his  fon,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Ed- 
wards, of  New  Haven,  Feb.  25,  1773- 

F  We 


32  THELIFEOFTHE 

We  (hall  clofe  our  account  of  Piefident  Edwards  with 
the  following  particulars  of  his  habit  of  life,  and  cha- 
ra6ler : 

Though  he  was  of  a  tender  and  delicate  conftitution, 
yet  few  ftudents  were  capable  of  more  clofe  application 
than  he  was.  He  commonly  fpent  thirteen  hours  every 
day  in  his  fludy.  His  moffc  ufual  diverfions  in  the  fum- 
mer  were  riding  on  horfeback  and  walking ;  he  would 
commonly,  unlefs  diverted  by  company,  ride  two  or  three 
miles  after  dinner  to  fome  lonely  grove,  where  he  would 
difmount  and  walk  a  while.  At  which  times  he  generally 
carried  his  pen  and  ink  with  him,  to  note  any  thought 
that  fliould  be  fuggefled,  which  he  chofe  to  retain  and 
purfue.  In  the  winter  he  was  wont,  almoll:  daily,  to  take 
an  axe  and  chop  wood  moderately  for  the  fpace  of  half 
an  hour  or  more.  He  had  an  uncommon  thirft  for  know- 
ledge, in  the  purfuit  of  which  he  fpared  neither  coft  nor 
pains.  He  read  all  the  books,  efpecially  books  of  divi- 
nity, that  he  could  come  at,  from  which  he  could  hope 
to  get  any  help  in  his  purfuit  of  knowledge.  And,  in 
this,  he  confined  not  himfelf  to  authors  of  any  particu- 
lar feet  or  denomination  ;  but  took  much  pains  to  come 
at  the  books  of  the  mofl;  celebrated  writers  whofe  fcheme 
of  divinity  was  moft  contrary  to  his  ovim  principles :  but 
he  fludled  the  Bible  more  than  all  other  books,  and  more 
than  moft  other  divines  do.  His  uncommon  acquintancc 
with  it  appears  in  his  fermons,  and  in  moft  of  his  publi- 
cations :  and  his  great  pains  in  lludying  it  are  manifeft 
in  liis  manufcript  notes  upon  it.  He  was  thought  by 
Ibmc,  wlio  had  but  a  flight  acquaintance  with  him,  to  be 
ftiff  and  unfociable  ;  but  this  was  owin^  to  want  of  better 
acquaintance.  He  was  not  a  man  of  many  words  indeed, 
and  w-as  fomewhat  referved  among  ftrangers ;  but  among 
fucli  whofe  candour  and  friendfliip  he  had  experienced,  he 
threw  off  that  referve,  and  was  molt  open  and  free  ;  and 
remarkably  patient  of  contradiction.  He  was  not  ufed 
to  fpend  his  time  in  fcandal,  evil  fpeaking,  and  backbiting, 
or  in  foolifa  jelling  and  idle  cliat ;    but  his  mouth   was 

that 


REV.   JONATHAN   EDWARDS.  33 

that  of  the  juR,  which  bringeth  forth  wifdom,  and  his  lips 
difperfed  knowledge  ;  fo  that  none  of  his  friends  could 
enjoy  his  company  without  inftru6lion  and  profit,  unlefs 
it  was  by  tlieir  own  fault :  he  kept  himfclf  quite  tree  trom 
worldly  cares;  and  left  the  dire6tion  of  the  temporal  con- 
cerns of  his  family  almofl:  entirely  to  Mrs.  Edwards ;  who 
was  better  able  than  moft  of  her  fax,  to  take  the  whole 
care  of  them  on  her  hands. 

Thus  ornamental  to  the  chriftian  name  and  chara£ler 
lived  the  excellent  fubject  of  thefe  memoirs  ;  and  his  death 
perfe£Hy  harmonized  with  the  tenor  of  his  life:  «'  Never 
did  any  mortal  man,"  fays  his  phyfician,  in  a  letter  to 
Mrs.  Edwards,  "  more  fully  and  clearly  evidence  the  fin- 
cerity  of  his  profeflion,  by  one  continued,  univerfal  calm, 
cheerful  refignation,  and  patient  fubmiffion,  to  the  divine 
will,  through  every  ftage  of  his  difeafe,  than  he  :  not  (o 
much  as  one  difcontented  expreffion,  nor  the  leaft  appear- 
ance of  murmuring  through  the  whole." 

Prefident  Edwards  left  the  following  works,  befides  fun- 
dry  MSS.  yetunpublifhed,  which  will  doubtlcfs  perpetuate 
his  memory  to  remote  ages  of  the  church. 

I.  A  Narrative  of  the  furprifing  Work  of  God  in  the 
Converfion  of  feveral  hundred  Souls  in  Northampton, 
New  England.     1737. 

IT.  Five  Sermons— on  Juftification  by  Faith  alone : 
— Preffing  into  the  Kingdom  of  God— Ruth's  Refolu- 
tion— The  Juftice  of  God  in  the  Damnation  of  Sinners 
—and  the  Excellency  of  Jefus  Chrift.     1738. 

III.  Thoughts  en   the    Revival    of    Religion   in   New        ~i~ 
England.      1742. 

IV.  A  Treatife  on  religious  AiFe£lion.     1746.  -^ 

V.  An     Attempt    to    promote    the   Union    of    God' 
People   in  extraordinary  Prayer  for  the  Revival  of  Reli 


-h 


i- 


+■ 


gion.     1747. 

VI.    The  Life   of   Mr.    David  Brainerd,    Miffionary.        ~H 

'7^'-'^'  ...  ^ 

Vi[.    An   Inquiry  into  the  Qualification  for  full  Com-        \ 

munion,  2cc.     1749- 

F  2  VIII.    A 


34  THE    LIFE    OF,     &c. 

-4-  VIII.  A  Reply  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  William's  Anfwer  to 

this  Inquiry.      1752. 
~f^         IX.  An  Inquiry  into  the  Freedom  of  the  Will.   1754. 
X.    A  Number  of  fingle  Sermons,  on  various  SubjevSls 
and  different  Occafions. 
--j-^  XL   The  Chriftian  Doftrine  of  original  Sin.      1758. 

A^.  B.  This  was  in  the  prefs  when  he  died ;  the  follow- 
ing works  were  pollhumous. 
-f-  XII.    A   Hiftory   of   Redemption.      [The   fubfequeat 

work]   1774. 

XIII.  His  Life  and  eighteen  Sermons.     1785- 


SYLLABUS 


C    35    ] 

SYLLABUS 

OF       THE- 

HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION. 


Text  [Ifa.  li.  8.]  explained. 

Obferve,  i.  How  fliort  the  profperity  of  the  church's 
enemies. 
2.  The  happy  and  eternal  portion  of  God's 
people. 

Doctrine.     The  work  of  Redemption  is  a  work  which 
God  carries  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

Premife,  i.  An  explanation  of  the  terms. 

/*  2.  God's  deligns  in  this  work,  were 

/  To  triumph  over  his  enemies ; 

\  To  rcftore  the  ruins  of  the  fall ; 

\  To  gather  all  the  ele6l  in  Chrift  ; 

!  To  complete  their  happinefs  ; 

!  To  glorify  the  blefled  Trinity. 

Thefuhje^  divided  into  three  Periods. 


/  PERIOD    I. 

From  the  Fall  to  the  Incarnation. 
§  I.  From  the  Fall  to  the  Flood. 

,^  I.  Chrift  began  his  office  immediately  on  the  fall. 
,^2.  The  firft  promife.- 
.««3.  The  origin  of  facrifices. 

4.  Salvation  of  Abel. 

5.  Revival  of  Religion. 

6.  Holy  life  of  Enoch. 

7.  His  prophecy. 

8.  His  tranflation. 

o.  Prefervation  of  religion  in  Noah's  family. 

§  II. 


36  SYLLABUS. 

§  II.  From  th«  FLOOD  to  the  Call  of  Abraham. 

I-  The  Flood. 

a.  Noah's  prefervation  in  tho  ark. 

3.  New  grant  to  Noah. 

4.  Renewal  of  the  covenant  with  him. 

5.  Deflrinflion  of  Babel. 

6.  The  confequent  difperfion. 

§  III,  From  the  Call  of  Abraham  to  Moses. 
I     The  Call  of  Abraliam. 

2.  Farther  difcovery  of  the  covenant  of  grace. 

3.  Prefervation  of  the  ancient  Patriarchs. 
Deflru6lion  of  Sodom. 

5.  Covenant  renewed  with  Ifaac  and  Jacob. 

6.  Fliftory  of  Jofeph. 

7.  Jacob's  prophecy. 

f  IV.  From  Moses  to  David. 

1.  Ilrael's  redemption  from  Egypt. 

2.  Other  nations  given  up  to  heathenifm. 

3.  The  law  given  at  Sinai. 

4.  The  Jewifli  typical  law. 

'— ^'"'^    5.  The  Pentateuch  written  by  Mofes. 

6.  Tfrael's  paffage  through  the  wildernefs,  typical. 

7.  Human  life  Ihortened. 

8.  Miracles  in  the  wildernefs. 

9.  Prophecies  of  Balaam  and  Mofes. 

10.  God's  Spirit  poured  out  on  the  rifmg  generation. 

1 1.  Ifrael  brought  into  Canaan. 
^f^\i.  The  tabernacle  pitched  at  Shiloh. 

13.  The  land  preferved    while    Ifrael   went    up  \o 

Jerufalem. 

14.  Ifrael  preferved  during  their  frequent  apoflafies. 
15  Their  repeated  deliverances  from  captiviiy, 

16.  The  appearances  of  Chrill:  vmder  the  Old  Teila- 
ment. 
-- — —  17.  The  fchool  of  the  prophets  iuflitutcd  by  Samuel. 

§  V.  From  David  to  the  Babylonilli  Captivity. 

1.  David  anointed. 

2.  His  life  wonderfully  preferved. 

3.  Samuel's -writings. 

4.  David's  infpiration. 

5.  David  crowned. 

6.  Jerufalem  chofen  by  God. 

7.  God's  covenant  renewed  with  David. 

8.  Ifrael  6rll  pofl'els  the  whole  promifed  land. 

9.  Jewith 


SYLLABUS.  37 

9.  Jewiili  worlhip  perfe6^ed. 

10.  "Writings  of  Nathan  and  Gad. 

1 1.  Kingdo;n  of  Judah  preferved  in  David's  family. 

12.  The  building  of  Solomon's  temple. 

13.  The  Jewiili  church   at  its  higheft  glory  in  his 

time. 

14.  God's   Work  carried  on  during  the  fubfcquent 

decline. 
Obfcrve,  this  prepared  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming. 

15.  The  canon  of  Scripture  enlarged. 

16.  The  church  kept  in  times  of  general  apoftafy. 

17.  The  book  of  the  law  wonderfully  preferved. 

18.  The  tribe  of  Judah  preferved. 

19.  A  fucceffion  of  Prophets  from  Samuel.  "s^--' 

§  VL  From  the  Babyloniih  Captivity  to  the  Incarna- 
tion. 
Premife,   (i.)   This  period  more  the  fubjed  of  Prophecy 
than  Hiltory. 
(2.)   Full  of  remarkable  revolutions.  -■ 

(3.)   The  church  preferved  in  the  midfl:  of  theni 
all.  '  \ 

1 .  The  captivity  in  Babylon — its  ufe  to  the  Jews. 

2.  Additions  to  the  canon  of  Scripture. 

3.  Babylon  deflroyed  by  Cyrus. 

4.  The  Jews  return. 

^.  The  prophecies  of  Haggai  and  Zachariah. 

6.  The  Spirit  of  God  remarkably  with  Esra. 

7.  The  book  of  Ezra  written. 

8.  The  canon  of  Scripture  compiled. 

9.  The  public  reading  of  the  law. 

10.  The  Jews  preferved  from  Haman's  cruelty. 

11.  The  books  of  Nehemiah  and  Efther  writteu. 

12.  IMalachi's  prophecy.  

13.  The  Spirit  of  Prophecy  ceafed. 

14.  The  Perfian  Empire  deftroyed, 

«m!i.       15.  The  Sept^iagint  tranflation.  """ 

16.  The  church  preferved  during  the  Greek   Em- 

pire. 

17.  The  erection  of  the  Roman  Empire.  ■- 

18.  Learning  and  philofophy  at  their  height. 

19.  Roman  Empire  in  peace  and  glory. 
Improvemfnt,  r.  Jefus  the  true  Mefliah. 

5  2.  The  Old  Teftament  infpired.    . 

^  3.  An  objedlion  anfwered. 

4.  God's 


38  SYLLABUS. 

4.  God's  wifdom  difplayed  in  divine  rC' 

velation. 

5.  Chrift  the  grand  fubjeft  of  the  Bible. 

6.  The  ufefuhiefs  of  the  Old  Teftament. 

7.  Folly  of  neglefting  the  Bible. 

8.  Grandeur   of    ChriiVs   character    and 

miffion. 


P  E  R  I  O  D     11. 

From  Christ's  Incarnation  to  his  Resurrection. 
§  L  The  Incarnation— why  neceffary. 

1.  Included  Chrift's  conception  and  birth. 

2.  Accomplifhed  in  the  fulnefs  of  time. 

3.  The  greatnefs  of  this  event. 

4.  Poverty  of  Chrift. 

_^^        5.   Several  concomitants  of  this  event  ;  as 
The  return  of  God's  Spirit ; 
'    '  Notice  taken  of  the  Incarnation  both  in  heaven 

and  earth  •, 
Circumcifion  of  Chrift ; 
Chrift's  appearance  in  the  fecond  temple  ; 
The  fceptre's  departing  from  Judah. 
§  II.  The  Purchase  of  Redemption. 

1.  The  term  explained. 

2.  General  Obfervations  ;  viz. 

(i.)  Chrift's  fatisfa6tion  confifted  inhis  lutFerings. 
(2.)  Duiing  the  whole  of  his  humiliation. 
(3.)  By   the  fame  things  Chrift  fatislied  for  fin, 
and  purchafed  eternal  happinefs. 

3.  Confider  Chrift's  obedience,  as  to 

(i.)   The  laws  he  obeyed— as  a  Man,  a  Jew,  and 
as  a  Mediator. 
A^  B.  Obferve  the  excellency  of  this  obedience, 

(2.)   The  different  periods  of  his  obcdieiK;c  ; 
In  his  private  life  ; 

In  his  public  miniftry  ;  concerning  which, 
Obferve,  Chrift's  forerunner  ; 
His  baptifm  ; 

His  public  works ;  preacliing,  working  mira- 
cles, and  calling  his.difciples; 
His  miniliry  hnilhed,  by  counfelling  his  dif- 
ciples,    inftituting   his  fupper,    and  offering 
himfelf  a  facritice. 

(3.)  The 


SYLLABUS.  39 

(3.)  The  virtues  heexercifed;  with  refpeft  to 
God,  himfelf,  and  other  men. 
4.  Confider  Chrift's  futFerings: 
(i.)   In  his  infancy  ; 

(2.)  private  h'fe; 

(3.]  public  miniflry; 

(4.)  death. 

Improvement,  i.  Reproof, 

Of  unbelief; 
Self  righteoufnefs ; 
Negledl  of  falvation. 
2.   Encouragement; 

Completenefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe ; 
Chrift  reje6ts  none  who  come  to  him. 


PERIOD    III. 

Introduction,  i.  The  times  of  this  period  called  the 

latter  days. 
2. end 

of  the  world. 
q.  ■ defcribed  as  a 


creation  of  a  new  heaven  and  eartli 
called  the 


kingdom  of  God. 
Ohfcrve,  God's  defign  to  exhibit  his  wifdom  and  victories 
over  Satan. 

§  I.  Thofe  things  WHEREBY  Christ  was  capacitated 
for  this  work. 

1.  His  refurre6tion.    . 

2.  His  afcenfion. 

^  IT.   Dispensation    of  Providence,  by  which   the 
means  of  the  fuccefs  of  it  were  eftablilhed,  viz 

1 .  The  end  of  the  Jewifh  difpenfation.    ,^-— ' 

2.  The  Chriftian  Sabbath.  --»^ 

3.  The  inftitutiou  of  a  gofpel  miniftry.  '"^ 

4.  The  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghoft.  ....■*'— 

5.  The  full  revelation  of  gofpel  truth.    ^""^ 

6.  The  appointment  of  deacons. 

7.  The  miffion  of  St.  Paul. 

8.  The  inftitution  of  ecclefiaftical  councils. 

q.  Committing  the  New  Teftamentto  writing. 

G  §  in- 


40  SYLLABUS. 

§in.    This  SUCCESS  CARRIED  ON  ill  a  SUFFERING  ftatC. 

I.   From   Chriffs  refurrcBion   to  the  dcjiruttmi  of 
Jerufalcm. 
(i.)   Its  fuccefs  among  the  Jews,  Samaritans,  and 

Gentiles. 
(2.)   Oppoiition  made  to  it. 
(3.)   God's  judgments  on  the  oppofers. 

2.  From  the  deJiruSl'ion  of  Jerufalem  to  Conjlantine. 
(i.)  Oppofition  made  by  writing  and  perfecution. 
(2.)    Succefs  of  the  gofpel  notwithftanding. 

(3.)   Particvilar  circumftances  of  diftrefs  jufl  be- 
fore Conftantine. 

(4.)   Revolution  in  Conftantine's  time. 

Chriftians  delivered  from  perfecution. 
Terrible  judgments  on  their  enemies. 
Heathen ilm  in  a  great  meafure  abolifhed. 
Peace  of  the  church. 

Improvement.— 77/<?  truth  of  Chrljllanity. 

The  gofpel  the   only  means  of  bringing  men  to 

the  knowledge  of  God. 
The  hand  of  God  vifible  in  this  work. 
No  other  caufe  fufEcient  to  account  for  it. 
The  event  agreeable  to  Chrift's  predictions. 

3.  From  Conftantine  to  the  rife  oi  Antichrift. 

(i.)   Oppofition  made  by  herefies  and  paganifm. 
(2.)    Succefs  of  the  gofpel  notwith'ftanding. 

4.  From  the  rife  of  Antichrift  to  the  reformation. 

( I .)   The  devil's  oppofition  by  Popery  and  Maho- 
metanifm. 

(2.)   The  church  wonderfully  preferved. 

Some  nations  late  in  fubmitting  to  popery. 
Some  in  every  age  oppofed  it, 
Particularly  the  Waldenfes, 
Alfo  Wickliffe  and  his  difciples. 
c.  From  the  reformation  to  x\\c  prefent  time. 

(i.)   The  reformation  itfelf  con{idered. 

(2.)    The  oppofition  made  to  it, 

—  By  the  Council  of  Trent, 

—  By  private  confpiracies, 
—    By  open  wars, 

^      By  bloody  perfecutions, 
By  erroneous  opinions. 

(30  TI^^ 


SYLLABUS.  41 

(3.)   The  fucccfs  of  the  gofpel  lately, 
In  reformation  of  do6lnne ; 
In  the  fpread  of  the  gofpel ;  particularly  in 

America,  Mufcovy,  and  the  Eaft  Indies. 
Revivals  of  religion  of  late,   efpecially  in 
Saxony  and  New  England. 
(4.)   The  prefent  ftate  of  religion ; 
In  fome  refpe6ls  better, 
In  others  worfe. 
Improvement. ---Evidences  of  Chriflianity, 

From  the  oppofition  of  wicked  men, 

prcfervation  of  the  church, 

fulfilment  of  prophecies, 

fpirit  of  Chrlftianity. 

The  credibility  of  remaining  prophecies. 
6.  From  the  prcfcKt  time  to  the  fall  of  Antichrift. 

(i.)   A  dark  time  will  precede  this  event. 

(2.)   The    fall   of    Antichrift    will    be  gradual, 
though  fwift. 

(3.)    It  willbe  accomphfhed  by  the  out-pouring 
of  God's  Spirit. 

(4.)    Great  oppolition  will  be  made. 

(5.)   Chrift  will  obtain  complete  vidlory. 

(6.)    Satan's  vifiblc  kingdom  be  univerfally  de- 
ftroyed. 

(7.)   This  event  compared  to  the  day  of  judgment. 

§IV.  This  Success  carried  on  in  a  prosperous  ftate  for 
the  moft  part. 

1.  Its  profperity  through    the   greater   part  of   this 

period, 
(i.)   This  moft  properly  the  kingdom  of  heaven 

on  earth. 
(2.)    This  the  grand  period  for   the  fulfilment  of 

prophecy. 
(3.)   The  duration  of  this  period. 

2.  The  grand  apoftafy  which  will  immediately  pre- 

cede Chrift's  coming. 
§  V.  Completion  of  this  vvork  in  Glory. 
Prcmifc,  (i.)   How  great  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe. 
(2.)   All  preceding  deliverances  preparatory  and 
typical  of  this. 
To  accompli///  this  work^ 

I,  Chrift  will  appear  in  the  clouds ; 

G  %  2>  The 


^z  SYLLABUS. 

2.  The  dead  fhall  be  raifed  ; 

3.  The  faints  ihall  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air; 

4.  The  righteoufnefs  of  the  church  and  wickednefs 

of  her  enemies  fhall  be  manifeft  ; 
^.  Final  fentence  pafs  on  all  men ; 
6.  Chrift  and  his  church  afcend  to  glory ; 
J.  This  world  be  burnt; 
8.  The  church  made  completely    and  eternally 

happy. 
General  Improvement. 

1 .  How  great  the  work  of  redemption  ! 

2.  God  the  Alpha  and  Omega  in  it. 

3.  Chrift  in  all  things  hath  the  pre-eminence. 

4.  The  harmony  of  divine  Providence, 
c.  The  truth  of  the  Scriptures. 

6.  Difplay  of  the  divine  power  and  glory, 
wifdom. 
mercy  and  faithfulnefs. 


7' 


9.  Happinefs  of  the  church. 
10.  Mifery  of  wicked  men. 


HISTORY 


HISTORY 

O  F 

REDEMPTION. 

Isaiah,  li    8. 

FOR  THE  MOTH  SHALL  EAT  THEM  UP  LIKE  A  GAR- 
MENT, AND  THE  WORM  SHALL  EAT  THEM  LIKE 
WOOL  :  BUT  MY  RIGHTEOUSNESS  SHALL  BE  FOR 
EVER,  AND  MY  SALVATION  FROM  GENERATION  TO 
GENERATION. 


T 


H  E  defign  of  this  chapter  is  to  comfort  the  church 
under  her  fufFerings,  and  the  perfecutions  of  her  enemies; 
and  the  argument  of  confolation  infifted  on,  is,  the  con- 
ftancy  and  perpetuity  of  God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs, 
which  fhall  be  manifeft  in  continuing  to  work  falvation ; 
prote6ling  her  againft  all  affaults  of  her  enemies,  and  car- 
rying her  through  all  the  changes  of  the  world,  and  finally 
crowning  her  with  vi(Story  and  deliverance. 

In  the  text,  this  happinefs  of  the  church  of  God  is  fet 
forth  by  comparing  it  with  the  contrary  fate  of  her  enemies 
that  opprefs  her.     And  therein  we  may  obferve, 

I.  How  fhort-lived  the  power  and  profperity  of  the 
church's  enemies  is :  '  The  moth  fliall  eat  them  up  like 
'  a  garment,  and  the  worm  fhall. eat  them  like  wool;'  (a) 

i.  e. 

(a)  The  MOTH — and  the  VJ ov.vi JJjall  eat  them.~\  There  is  a  flight 
inaccuracy  in  this  rendering  which  is  worth  correcting,  becaufc 

it 


44  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

i.e.  however  great  their  profperity,  and  however  great  their 
prefent  glory,  they  {hall  by  degrees  confume  and  vanifh 
away  by  a  fecret  curfe  of  God,  till  they  come  to  nothing  ; 
and  their  power  and  glory,  and  confequently  their  perfe- 
cutions,  eteinally  ceafe  ;  and  thenifelves  be  finally  and  ir- 
recoverably ruined  :  as  the  fined  and  moll  glorious  apparel 
v/ill  in  time  wear  away,  and  be  confumed  by  moth  and 
rottennefs.  We  learn  who  thofe  are  that  iliall  thus  con- 
fume  away,  by  the  foregoing  verfc,  viz.  thofe  that  are  the 
enemies  of  God's  people  :  '  Hearken  unto  me,  ye  that 
'  know  righteoufnefs,  the  people  in  whofe  heart  is  my  law, 

*  fear  ye  not  the  reproach  of  men,  (b)  neither  be  ye  afraid 

*  of  THEIR  revilings. 

Obfcrve,  i.  The  contrary  happy  lot  and  portion  of  God's 
church,  cxprelfcd  in  thefe  words,   '   My  righteoufnefs  fhall 

<■  be 

it  will  throw  a  fartlier  beauty  on  the  text.  It  fliould  feem  that 
the  word  [l^'l^]  gnajlj,  rendered  moth,  ftrI6lly  fignifies,  not  the 
moth-Jly,  but  the  moth-worm,  or  caterpillar,  and  receives  its  name 
from  its  corroding  and  d-^roy'ing  the  texture  of  cloth.  [Park  hurst 
Lex.  Heb.  in  Verb,  and  Scott  in  Job.]  "  The  young  moth," 
[or  moth-worm]  fays  the  ingenious  Abbe  Le  Pluche,  "  upon 
leaving  the  ^'g'gi  which  a  papiHo  [or  moth]  has  lodged  upon  a 
piece  of  ftuff  ....  commodious  for  her  purpofe,  finds  a  habita- 
tion and  food  ....  it  grows  and  lives  upon  the  nap,  and  likewife 
builds  v/ith  it  its  apartment.  .  .  .  The  whole  is  well  faftencd  to  the 
ground  of  the  ftuff  with  fcveral  cords  and  a  little  glue.  The  moth 
[worm]  .  .  .  devours  and  demoliflics  all  about  her  ;  .  .  .  and  when 
ihe  has  cleared  the  place  .  .  .  .  flie  draws  out  all  the  ftakes  of  this 
tent,  after  which  flie  carries  it  to  fome  little  diflance,  and  then 
fixes  it  with  flender  cords  in  a  new  fituation.  In  this  manner  Oie 
continues  to  live  at  our  expence  till  fne  is  fatlated  with  her  food, 
at  which  period  fiie  is  firit  transformed  into  a  nymph,  and  then 
changed  mio  zpapU'io,  or  raoth.  [Nature  Difplayed,  vol.  i.  p.  35.] 
And  this  Is  what  is  intended  to  be  exprefied  by  the  latter  word 
[do]  fas,  whicli  is  the  proper  name  oi  the  moth  itfelf,  from  its 
agility.  [vSo  the  LXX  render  it  S/^tsj,  and  the  Vulgate,  Tinea. 
And  hence  is  derived  2-/^-,  ufed  in  the  Greek  and  Syriac  of  Matt, 
vi.  20.]  We  would  read  the  text  thus,  *  The  moth-worm  fhall 
eat  them  like  a  garment,  and  the  moth  fhall  devour  them  like 
■wool.'  So  fecret,  rapid,  and  complete  fliall  be  the  deftruftion  of 
the  church's  enemies  ! 

(b)   *  Reproach  of  men. ^'\      BIfliopLowTH  [inloc,]  renders  tiic 
latter  word  [iLMJ^j]  fomewhat  more  elegantly  and  literally,  "  R.e- 

proach  of  WRETCHED  MAN," 


HISTORY    OF    P.EDEMPTION.  45 

<  be  for  ever,  and  my  falvation  from  generation  to  gcne- 

*  ration.'  Alfo  who  thofe  are  that  fhall  have  the  benefit 
of  this,  by  the  preceding  verfe,  namely,   '  They  that  know 

*  righteoufnefs,  and  the  people  in  whofe  heart  is  God's 
'  law  ;'  or,  in  one  word,  the  church  of  God.  And  con- 
cerning this  tlieir  happinefs  wc  may  obferve  two  things, 
wherein  its  conlills,  and  its  continuance. 

(i.)  Wherein  it  conilfts,  viz.  In  God's  righteoufnefs 
and  falvation  towards  them.  Ey  God's  righteoufnefs  here, 
is  meant  his  faithfulnefs  and  fulfilling  his  covenant  pro- 
mifes  to  his  church,  or  his  faithfulnefs  towards  his  church 
and  people,  in  bellowing  the  benefits  of  the  covenant  of 
grace  upon  them  ;  (c)  which  benefits,  though  they  are 
bellowed  of  free  and  fovereign  grace,  and  are  altoprcther 
undcferved  ;  yet  as  God  has  been  pleafed,  by  the  promifes 
of  the  covenant  of  grace,  to  bind  himfelf  to  bellow  them, 
fo  they  arc  beflowed  in  the  exercife  of  God's  righteoufnefs 
or  juftice.     And  therefore  the  apoftle  fays  [Heb.  vi.  10.] 

*  God  is  not  unrighteous,  to  forget  your  work  and  labour 

*  of  love.'     And  the   Evangelift  [i  John  i.  g.]   '   If  we 

*  confefs  our  fins,    he  is  faithful  and  juft  to  forgive  us  our 

*  fins,  and  to  cleanfe  xis  from  all  unrighteoufnefs.'  So  the 
word  righteoufnefs  is  very  often  ufed  in  fcripture  for  God's 
covenant  faithfulnefs;  as  in  Nehem.  ix.  8.  '  Thou  haft 
performed  thy  words,  for  thou  art  righteous.'  So  we  are 
often  to  undcrftand  righteoufnefs  and  covenant  mercy  for 
the  fame,  as  [Pfa.  xxiv.  5.]   '  He  fliall  receive  the  bleffing 

*  from  the  Lord,  and  righteoufnefs  from  the   God   of  his 

*  falvation.'  [Pfa.  xxxvi.  10.]  '  Continue  thy  loving 
'  kindncfs  to  them  that  know  thee,  and  thy  righteoufnefs 

*  to  the   upright   in  heart.'     [Pfa.  li.   14.]   '  Deliver  me 

*  from  blood  guiltinefs,  O  God,  thou  God  of  my  falva- 
«  tion,  and  my  tongue  fliall  fing  aloud  of  thy  righteouf- 
nefs.'    [Dan.  ix.  16.]  '   O  Lord,  according  to  thy  righ- 

'  teoufnefs, 

(c)  God's  righteoufnefs. 2  "  The  word  [pTy]  righteoufnefs  is 
ufed  in  fuch  a  great  l4tltude  of  fignification  .  .  .  that  it  is  noteafy 
fometimcs  to  give  the  precife  meaning  of  it;  ....  it  means  here 
the  faithful  completion  of  God's  promifes  to  deliver  his  people." 
^Bp.  LowTH,  in  ver.  5. J 


46  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  teoufnefs,  I  befeech  thee,  let  thine  anger  and  thy  fury 
'   be  turned  away.'— And  fo  in  innumerable  other  places. 

The  other  word  here  uJfed  is  falvation.  Of  thefe,  God's 
righteoufnefs  and  his  falvation,  the  one  is  the  caufe,  of 
which  the  other  is  the  efFecl.  God's  righteoufnefs,  or 
covenant  mercy,  is  the  root,  of  which  his  falvation  is  the 
fruit.  Both  of  them  relate  to  the  covenant  of  grace.  The 
cue  is  God's  covenant  mercy  and  faitlifulnefs,  the  other 
ititends  that  work  by  which  this  covenant  mercy  is  accom- 
plillied.  For  falvation  is  the  fum  of  all"thofe  works  of 
God,  bv  which  the  benefits  of  the  covenant  of  grace  are 
procured  and  beiliowed. 

(2.)  We  may  obferve  its  continuance,  fignified  here 
by  two  expreffions  ;  for  ever,  and  from  generation  to 
generation.  The  latter  feems  to  be  explanatory  of  the 
former.  The  phrafe  for  ever,  is  varioufly  nfed  in  fcrip- 
ture.  (d)    Sometimes  thereby  is  meant  as  long  as  a  man 

lives. 

(d)  The  phrife  for  ever  is  imr'toujly  ufed  in  fcrlpture.^  The 
meaning  of  this  and  the  like  expreffions  is  fo  intimately  connected 
with  feveral  controverfies,  particularly  the  perpetuity  of  the  law  of 
Mofes,  the  duration  of  future  torments,  and  the  divinity  of  Chrift, 
that  it  is  of  confiderable  confequencc  to  afcertain  it.  Schind- 
LERUS  fays  of  the  original  tenn  in  Hebrew,  ^^  JEvum,  feculum, 
certum  temporis  fpacium  :  longum  tempus  pr^teritum  aut  futu- 
rum  :  tempus,  cujus  duratio  ell  abfcondita :  duratio  finita  juxta 
fubjeftam  materiam,  de  qui  agitur."  Parkkurst  [Lex.  in  CD/J^] 
whofe  words  perfeftly  correfpo.nd,  interprets  it  of  "  Time,  hiddeti 
or  concealed  ixom  man,  as  well  indefinite  and  eternal,  as  finite  ;  as 
well  paft  as  future.  It  feems  to  be  much  more  frequently  ufed  for 
an  indefinite  than  for  an  infinite  time."  And  even  Mr.  Levi 
explains  it  by  "  Perpetual ;  everlafting  ;  Jigurativelyt  a  certain 
num.ber  of  years.'      [Heb.  Dift.  in  Cd'?]^.] 

We  think  the  moll  accurate  method  of  explaining  the  different 
meanings  of  this  phrafe  would  be,  to  reduce  them  to  a  general 
term,  and  none  feenns  to  promife  fo  fair,  or  has  been  fo  generally 
applied  to  it,  as  age  (sevum,  feculum)  which  we  fhall  therefore 
tr)',  and  apply  to  the  inftances  quoted  by  our  author. 

I.  Forever^  everlafting,  and  the  like  terms,  are  fometimes  ap- 
plied to  the  age  of  human  life,  as  in  i  Sam.  xxviii.  2.  '  And  Achifh 
'  faid  to  David,  I  will  make  thee  keeper  of  mine  head  for  ever  ;' 
i.  e.  as  long  as  I  live.  So  our  author  underftands  Exod.  xxi.  6.  as 
above  cited;  but  many  refer  this  to  the  next  fenl'c. 

2.  For 


HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION.  47 

lives.  Thus  it  is  faid,  [Exod.  xxl.  6.]  The  fervant  that 
had  his  ear  bored  through  with  aa  awl  to  the  door  of 
his  mafter  Hiould  ferve  him  for  ever.— Sometimes  thereby 
is  meant  during  the  continuance  of  the  Jewifli  ilate. 
So  of  many  of  the  ceremonial  and  Livitical  laws  it  is  faid, 
that  they  fhould  be  ftatutesyir  ever. — Sometimes  it  means 
as  Ions  as  the  world  fhall  ftand,  or  to  the  end  of  the  (je- 
neraiionsof  men.  Thus  [Ecclef.  i.  4.]  '  One  generation 
*  paffeth  away  and  another  cometh  ;  but  the  earth  abideth 

H  '>• 

2.  For  ever  means  to  the  year  of  jubilee,  as  Levi  [ut  fupra] 
and  others.  The  fa£t  is,  if  no  jubilee  intervened,  the  fervant 
whofc  ear  was  bored  was  to  ferve  as  long  as  he  lived,  but  the  ju- 
bilee roleafed  him.  And  the  term  age  might  be  applied  to  the  pe- 
riod of  the  jubilee,  which  was  fifty  years,  with  as  much  propriety, 
as  to  that  of  a  century.  Seculuni  has  been  differently  explained  of 
periods  of  thirty,  one  hundred,  and  even  a  thoufand  years. 

3.  We  frequently  reft ri£l  the  term /or  ever  to  the  ye-wifj  age^ 
or  difpcnfation,  and  thus  account  for  the  abolition  of  thofe  ftatuteS 
which,  as  above  obferved,  were  commanded  to  be  kept ybr  ever. 
The  tim.e  of  the  Jewilh  difpenfation  may  be  with  as  much  pro- 
priety called  an  age,  as  are  the  periods  of  other  difpenfations : — 
thus  we  fay,  the  Antideluvian  age,  the  Patriarchal  age,  the  Mil- 
lennial age.  So  the  heathens  divided  the  different  periods  of  the 
world  into  the  Golden  age,  the  Silver  age,  the  Iron  age,  &c. 

4.  The  fame  term  may  be  extended  to  the  period  of  the  Gofpel 
difpenfation,  or  the  Gofpel  age,  the  lall  which  the  fcripture  war- 
rants us  to  expeft,  the  termination  of  which  therefore  will  be 
coeval  with  the  end  of  the  world  ;  and  in  this  view,  it  will  be  the 
fame  thing  whether  we  refer  the  term_/b/-  ever  to  the  end  of  the 
gofpel  difpenfation,  or  of  the  world,  as  our  author  does. 

5.  The  expreflionybr  ever  muft  certainly  be  fometimes  taken  in 
its  utmoft  extent,  as  reaching  to  eternity,  /.  e.  the  age  of  God  and 
fpiritual  beings ;  and  we  may  obferve,  that  wlien  the  term  is  re- 
peated (for  ever  arid  ever)  it  is  generally  fo  to  be  underftood. 

6.  The  \.tixm  for  ever  is  frequently  taken  in  a  figurative  view,  as 
above  hinted,  for  any  long  period,  pafl  or  future.  '  [See  in  the 
Heb.  Ecclef.  i.  10. — xii.  5.]  Thus  we  ufe  the  term  age  when 
we  fay,  fuch  a  thing  has  been  an  age  in  doing — fuch  a  perfon  is  an 
age  in  coming — or  fucli  an  event  happened  an  age  ago. 

But  the  moft  important  thing  is  to  eaftblifh  a  criterion  to  deter- 
mine its  full  import  in  any  text  required.  The  i-emark  of  Schind- 
lerus  above  cited  is  certainly  juit,  namely,  that  the  fuhjed  vnijl  de- 
termine it  %  may  we  not  venture  then  to  fay,  that  the  termsybr  every 
^verhiftiug,  3cc.  are  always  to  be  taken  in  the  utinofl  latitude  the  fub~ 
jecl  ivdl  admit  of,  and  therefore  to  be  extended  to  a  proper  eternity, 
when  there  is  nothing  dtecLfive  to  forbid  it  ? — [I.  N.] 


48  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  for  ever.''  Sometimes  thereby  is  meant  to  all  eternity. 
Soitisfaid,  '  God  is  bleffed/cr  <?z;^r.'  [Rom.  i.  25.]  And 
[John  vi.  51.]  'If  any  man  eat  of  this  bread  he  flaall 
'  live/or  ever.''  K'ow  which  of  thefe  fenfes  is  here  in- 
tended the  next  word  determines,  '  and  my  falvation  from 
'  'reiteration  to  gencrat'ion ;'  that  is,  to  the  end  of  the 
world.  Indeed  the  fruits  of  God's  falvation  fhall  remain 
afterwards,  as  appears  by  the  6th  vcrfe  ;  '  Lift  up  your 
'  eyes  to  the  heavens,  and  look  upon  the  earth  beneath  : 
*  for  the  heavens  lliall  vanifli  away  like  fmoak,  and  the 
'  earth  Ihall  wax  old  like  a  garment,  and  they  that  dwell 
'  therein  ihall  die  in  like  manner,  but  my  falvation  fliall 
'  be  for  ever,  and  my  righteoufnefs  fliall  not  be  abolifh- 
'  ed.'  But  the  work  of  the  falvation  of  the  church  fliall 
continue  to  be  wrought  till  then.  Till  the  end  of  the 
world  God  will  go  on  to  accomplifli  deliverance  and 
falvation  for  the  church,  from  all  lier  enemies  ;  for  that  is 
what  the  prophet  is  here  fpeaking  of.  Till  the  end  of  the 
world ;  till  her  enemies  ceafe  to  be,  or  to  have  any  power 
to  moleft  the  church.  And  this  cx^rt^xoxi,  fro7?i  genera- 
tion to  generation,  may  determine  us,  as  to  the  tim.e  which 
God  continues  to  carry  on  the  work  of  falvation  for  his 
church,  both  witli  refpe6l  to  the  beginning  and  end.  It 
is  from  generation  to  generation,  i.  e.  throughout  all  ge- 
nerations; beginning  with  the  iirfl:  generation  of  men 
upon  the  earth,  and  not  ending  till  thefe  generations  end, 
with  the  world  itfelf.  And  therefore  we  deduce  from  thefe 
words  this 


DOCTRINE. 

THE    WORK    OF   REDEMPTION   IS  A  WORK    WHICH    GOD 
CARRIES  ON   FROM   THE    FALL   OF   MAN   TO   THE   END 
,  OF  THE  WORLD. 

THE  beginning  of  the  pofterity  of  our  firfl:  parents  was 
after  the  fall ;  for  all  their  poflerity,  by  ordinary  genera- 
tion,   are  partakers  of  the   fall,    and  of  the  corruption  of 

nature 


INTRODUCTION.  49 

nature  that  followed  fiom  it ;  and  thefe  generations,  by 
which  the  human  race  is  propagated,  fhall  continue  to 
the  end  of  the  world;  fo  thefe  two  are  the  limits  of  the 
(Tcneration  of  men  on  the  earth ;  the  fall  of  man,  and 
the  end  of  the  world.  There  are  the  fame  limits  to  the 
work  of  redemption,  as  to  thofe  progreffive  works  of 
God,  by  which  that  redemption  is  accompllfiied ;  though 
not  as  to  the  fruits  of  it ;  for  they,  as  was  laid  before,  ihall 
be  eternal. 

The  work  of  redemption  and  the  work  of  falvation  arc 
the  (-Ame  thing.  What  is  fometimes  in  fcripture  called 
God's  faving  his  people,  is  in  other  places  called  his  re- 
deeming them.  Chrift  is  called  both  the  Saviour  and  Re- 
deemer of  his  people. 

Before  entering  on  the  propofed  Hiftory  of  the  Work 
of  Redemption,  I  would, 

1.  Explain  the  terms  made  ufe  of  in  the  do61:rine  ; — 
and, 

2.  Shew  what  are  thofe  things  which  are  defigned  to  be 
accompliflied  by  this  great  work. 

I.  I   am  to  ihow  in  what  fenfe  the  terms  ot  the  doc- 
trine are  ufed. — And,    (i.)    I  Ihall  point  out  how  I  wouW'; 
be  underriood  when  I  ufe  the  word  redotiptlon  ; — and,    (2.) 
When  I  fay,  the  work  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  end  of  the  world. 

(i.)  I  mufb  Ihow  how  I  would  be  underftood  when  I 
ufe  the  word  redemption. — And  here  it  may  be  obferved, 
that  the  work  of  redemption  is  fometimes  to  be  taken  in  a 
limited  fenfe,  for  the  purchafe  of  falvation  ;  (for  fo  the 
word  ftridlly  fignities,  a  purchafe  of  deliverance  ;)  and  if 
we  take  it  in  this  fenfe,  the  work  of  redemption  was  not 
fo  long  in  doing:  but  it  was  begun  and  iinifhed  with 
Chrift's  humiliation.  It  was  begun  with  Chrift's  incar- 
nation, carried  on  through  his.  life,  and  iinifhed  with 
his  death,  or  the  time  of  his  remaining  under  the  power- 
ot  deatli,  which  ended  in  his  refurreclion  :  and  fo  we 
fay,  that  the  day  of  Chrift's  refurredlion  is  the  day  when 
he  finiflicd  the  work  of  redemption,  i.e.  then  the  purchafe 

H  2  .  was 


so  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

was  finifned  :  and  the  work  itfelf,  and  all  that  appertained 

to  it,  was  virtually  done,  hut  not  aHually. 

But  fometimes  the  work  of  redemption  is  taken  more 
largely,  as  including  all  that  God  doth  tending  to  this  end  ; 
not  only  the  purchafe  itfelf,  but  alfo  all  God's  works  that 
were  properly  preparatory  to,  orapplicatory  of,  the  purchafe, 
and  accomplirtiing  the  fuccefs  of  it :  fo  then  the  whole  dif- 
penfation,  as  it  includes  the  preparation,  the  purchafe,  and 
the  application  and  fuccefs  of  Chrid's  redemption,  may 
be  called  the  work  of  redemption.  All  that  Chrift  does  in 
this  great  affair  as  mediator,  in  any  of  his  offices,  either 
of  prophet,  prieft,  or  king  ;  either  when  he  was  in  this 
world  in  his  human  nature,  or  before,  or  fmce  :  and  not 
only  what  Chrift  the  mediator  has  done,  but  alfo  what  the 
Father,  or  the  Holy  Ghofi:,  have  done,  as  covenanted  in 
this  defiiT-n  of  redeeming  fmful  men  :  or,  in  one  word, 
all  that  is  wrought  in  execution  of  the  eternal  covenant  of 
redemption ;  this  is  what  I  call  the  work  of  redemption 
in  the  do6lrine  ;  for  it  is  all  but  one  work,  one  defign. 
The  various  difpenfations  or  works  that  belong  to  it,  are 
but  the  feveral  parts  of  one  fclicme.  It  is  but  one  defign 
that  is  formed,  to  which  all  the  offices  of  Chrift  directly 
tend;  in  which  all  the  Perfons  of  the  Trinity  confpire; 
and  all  the  various  difpenfations  that  belong  to  it  are  united. 
The  feveral  wheels  are  one  machine,  to  anfwer  one  end, 
and  produce  one  effe6l. 

(2.)  When  I  fay,  this  work  is  carried  on  from  the  fall 
of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  in  order  to  the  full  un- 
derftanding  of  my  meaning  in  it,  I  would  defire  two  or 
three  things  to  be  obferved. 

[1.]  That  it  is  not  meant,  that  nothing  was  done  in 
order  to  it  before  the  fall  of  man.  Some  things  were  done 
before  the  world  was  created,  yea,  from  all  eternity.  The 
perfons  of  the  Trinity  were,  as  it  were,  confederated  in  a 
defign,  and  a  covenant  of  redemption  ;  (e)  in  which  co- 
venant 


(e)   The  Persons   nf  the  TrinitV.]      Some  fericus  perfons 
have  been  offended  at  thefe  terms  as  unfcrlptural  and  unwarrant- 

able= 


INTRODUCTION.  51 

venant  the  Father  had  appointed  the  Son,  and  the  Son  had 
undertaken  tlie  work  :  and  all  things  to  be  accompliilied 
in  the  work  were  ftipulated  and  agreed  :  and  befides  thefe, 
there  were  things  done  at  the  creation  of  the  world,  in 
order  to  that  work,  before  man  fell ;  for  the  world  itfelf 
feems  to  have  ^been  created  in  order  to  it.  The  work  of 
creation  was  in  order  to  God's  works  of  providence  ;  fo 
that  if  it  be  inquired,  which  of  thefe  are  the  greatefl,  the 
works  of  creation,  or  the  works  of  providence  ?  I  anfwer, 
tlie  works  of  providence  ;  becaufe  God's  works  of  provi- 
dence are  the  end  of  his  works  of  creation ;  as  the  build- 
ing 

able.  It  is  acknowledged  well  to  keep  as  much  as  may  be  to  the 
phrafeology,  as  well  as  doftrines  of  revelation  ;  but  it  is  not  al- 
ways poffible  ;  unlefs,  at  leaft,  we  will  talk  Greek  and  Hebrew. 
As  to  the  word  Trinity,  fince  it  implies  no  more  than  the  union 
of  Three  in  0/2j,  without  leaning  to  any  particular  fcheme  of  ex- 
plication, thofe  who  believe  the  divine  and  myfterious  union  of  Fa- 
ther, Son,  and  Spirit,  in  one  Godhead,  need  hardly  fcruple  it, 
however  averfe  to  human  fyftems. 

The  term  Person  when  applied  to  Deity  is  certainly  ufed  in  a 
fcnfe  fomewhat  different  from  that  in  which  we  apply  it  to  one  ano- 
ther ;  but  when  it  is  confidered  that  the  Greek  words  ['YTroraiyir  & 
TLfVTui'nov']  to  which  it  anfwcrs,  are  in  the  New  Tcftament  applied  to 
the  Father  and  Son,  [Hcb.  i.  3. — 2  Cor.  Iv.  6.]  and  that  uo Jingle 
term,  at  leaft,  can  be  found  more  fuitable,  it  can  hardly  be  con- 
demned as  unfcriptural  or  improper. 

The  Perfons  of  the  Trinity  are  confederated  in  a  covenant,  &^c. 
It  would  lead  us  far  beyond  the  compafs  of  a  note  to  enter  here  on 
the  doftrine  of  the  covenants  ;  we  fliall  therefore  only  fubjoin  a 
few  of  the  texts  on  which  it  is  founded. 

2  Sam.  xsiii.  5.     '  He  hath  made  with  me  an  everlafting  cove- 

*  nant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  fure  ;  for  this  Is  all  my  falvation 
'  and  all  my  defire.' 

Pf.  xl.  6 — 8.      *  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou  didft  not  defire — 

*  then  faid  I,   Lo,  I  come  ;  in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written 

*  of  me.'     Compare  Heb.  :;.  5 — 9. 

Pf.  Ixxxix.  throughout.    '  I  have  made  a  covenant  v,-Ith  my  cho- 

*  fen — then  thou  fpakefl  In  vifion  to  the  holy  one  and  faid,  I  have 
'  laid  help  on  one  that  is  mighty,' — &c.  Compare  Hof.  ill.  5. 

Pf.  ex.  throughout.      *  The  Lord  faid  unto  my  Lord,  fit  thou 

*  at  my  right  hand — the  Lord  hath  fvvorn  and  will  not  repent,  thou 
'  art  a  prieft  for  ever,'  &c.     Comp.  Matt,  xxli.  24. 

Dan.  ix.  27.     '  He  fliall  confirm  the  covenant  with  many.' 
Heb.  viii.  6.      '  He  Is  the  mediator  of  a  better  covenant.' 
r- xlii.  20.     *  The  blood  of  the  everlafting  covenant/' 


52  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

ing  an  houfc,  or  liic  forming  an  engine  or  machine,  is 
for  its  future  ufe.  But  God's  main  work  of  providence 
is  this  great  work  of  redemption,  as  will  more  fully  appear 
hereafter. 

The  creation  of  heaven  was  in  order  to  the  work  of 
redemption  ;  it  was  to  be  an  habitation  for  the  redeemed: 
[Matt.  XXV.  34.]  '  Then  fnall  the  King  fay  unto  them  6n 
'  his  right  hand.  Come,  ye  bleffed  of  my  Father,  inherit 
'  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the 
*  world.'  Even  the  angels  were  created  to  be  employed 
in  this  work,  (f)  And  therefore  the  apoftle  calls  them, 
'  miniftering  fpirits,  fent  forth  to  minifter  for  them  who 
'  ihall  be  heirs  of  falvation.'  [Heb.  i.  14.]  As  to  this 
lower  world,  it  was  doubtlefs  created  to  be  a  flage  upon 
which  this  great  and  wonderful  work  of  redemption 
Jliould  be  tranfafted  ;  and  therefore,  as  m.ight  be  fliewn, 
in  m.any  refpefits  this  world  is  wifely  fitted,  in  the  forma- 
tion, for  fuch  a  flate  of  man  as  he  is  in  fincc  the  fall, 
imder  a  poffibility  of  redemption  ;  fo  that  when  it  is  faid, 
that  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall 
of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world,  it  is  not  meant,  that  all 
that  ever  was  done  in  order  to  redemption  has  been  done 
fmce  the  fall. 

Nor,  [2.]  Is  it  meant  that  there  will  be  no  remaining 
fruits  of  this  work  after  the  end  of  the  vvorld.  That 
glory  and  bleficdnefs,  which  will  be  the  fum  of  them  all, 
will  remain  to  the  faints  for  evei".  The  work  of  redemp- 
tion is  not  a  work  ahvays  doing  and  never  accompli fhed  ; 

the 

(f)  Heaven  [and  the  Angels)  creaiecl  in  order  to  the  ivork  of 
Rcdewpiion.  That  is,  this  was  one  of  the  ends  God  had  then  in 
view,  but  the  fuprcme  end  was  his  own  glory.      See  Prov.  xvi.  4. 

This  World  created  io  be  ajlageforthc  work  of  Redemption. 
This  thought  is  certainly  juft  and  beautiful.  Thofe  who  liave  con- 
fidered  the  world  as  defigned  for  only  perfeft  creatures,  have  had 
many  difficulties  which  this  idea  at  once  removes.  Wh"&t  would 
have  become  of  our  firft  parents,  had  they  continued  in  a  ftate  of 
innocency  ?  How  the  world  would  have  contained  all  its  fucccfTive 
generations  at  once  ?  And  the  like  inquiries  are  as  impertinent  as 
perplexing.  God  foreknew  the  fall — fore-ordained  the  mediator — r 
and  previoully  fitted  the  world  to  his  own  magnificent  defigns. 


INTRODUCTION.  53 

the  work  has  nu  iffuc  :  but  in  the  ilTue  the  end  will  be  ob- 
tained ;  which  end  will  never  terminate.  As  thole  things 
that  were  in  order  to  this  work  before  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  z>iz.  God's  elefting  love,  and  the  covenant  of  re- 
demption, never  had  a  beginning;  fo  the  fruits  of  this 
work,  which  lliall  be  after  the  end  of  the  world,  will  never 
have  an  end.     And  therefore, 

(3.)  When  it  is  faid  in  the  do6lrine,  that  this  is  a 
work  that  God  is  carrying  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  what  I  mean,  is,  that  thofe  things 
which  belong  to  the  work  itielf,  and  are  parts  of  this 
fcheme,  are  all  this  while  accomplilhing.  There  were 
fome  things  done  preparatory  to  its  beginning,  and  the 
fruits  of  it  will  remain  after  it  is  finiflied.  But  the  work 
itfelf  was  begun  immediately  upon  the  fall,  and  will  con- 
tinue to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  then  be  finifhed  :  the 
various  difpenfations  of  God  in  this  fpace  belong  to  the 
fame  work,  and  to  the  fame  defign,  and  have  all  one  iiTue  ; 
and  therefore  are  all  to  be  reckoned  but  as  feveral  parts 
of  one  work,  as  it  were,  feveral  fucceiTive  motions  of  one 
machine,  to  bring  about,  in  the  conclufion,  one  great 
event. 

And  here  alfo  we  muft  diftinguifli  between  the  parts  of 
redemption  itfelf,  and  the  parts  of  that  work  by  which 
redemption  is  wrought  out.  There  is  a  difFerence  be- 
tween the  parts  of  the  benefits  procured  and  beftowed, 
and  the  parts  of  that  work  of  God  by  which  thofe  bene- 
fits were  procured  and  beftowed.  As,  for  example,  there 
is  a  difFerence  between  the  parts  of  the  benefit  that  the 
children  of  Ifrael  received,  in  their  redemption  out  of 
Egypt,  and  the  parts  of  that  work  of  God  by  which  this 
was  wrought.  The  redemption  of  the  children  of  Ifrael 
out  of  Egypt,  confidered  as  tire  benefit  which  they  en- 
joyed, conlifled  of  two  parts,  viz.  their  deliverance  from 
their  forrtier  Egyptian  bondage  and  mifery,  and  their  be- 
ing brought  into  a  more  happy  ftate,  as  the  fervants  of 
God,  and  heirs  of  Canaan.  But  there  are  many  more 
things  which  are  parts  of  that  work  of  God  which  is 
called  his   work  of  redeeming   Ifrael  out  of  Egvpt.  •  To 

this 


54  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

this  belong  his  calling  of  Mofes,  his  fending  him  to  Pha- 
raoh, the  figns  and  wonders  he  wrought  in  Egypt,  and  his 
bringing  fuch  terrible  judgments  on  the  Egyptians,  and 
many  other  things. 

Such  is  the  work  by  which  God  effe6ls  the  redemption 
we  arefpeaking  of:  and  it  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man 
to  the  end  of  the  world,  in  two  refpects. 

(i.)  With  refpeft  to  the  effect  wrought  on  the  fouls 
of  the  redeemed,  Vv^hich  is  common  to  all  ages.  This  efteft 
is  the  application  of  redemption  with  refpedl  to  the  fouls 
of  particular  perfons,  in  converting,  juftifying,  fanctify- 
ing,  and  glorifying  them.  Thus  linners  are  a6lually  re- 
deemed ;  and  receive  the  benefit  of  the  work  of  redemption 
in  its  efFe£l  upon  their  fouls.  And  in  this  fcnfe  the  work 
of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the 
end  of  the  world.  The  work  of  God  in  converting  fouls, 
opening  blind  eyes,  unftopping  deaf  ears,  raifing  the  fpi- 
ritually  dead  to  life,  and  refcuing  miferable  captives  out 
of  the  hands  of  Satan,  was  begun  foon  after  tire  fall  of 
man,  has  been  carried  on  ever  fmce,  and  will  be  to  the 
end.  God  has  always,  ever  fince  the  firll:  eredlion  of  the 
church  of  the  redeeuicd  after  the  fall,  liad  fuch  a  church 
in  the  world.  Though  oftentimes  it  has  been  reduced  to 
a  very  narrow  compafs,  and  to  low  circurailances  ;  yet  it 
lias  never  wholly  failed. 

And  as  God  carries  on  the  work  of  converting  the  fouls 
of  fallen  men  through  all  ages,  fo  he  goes  on  to  juftify 
them,  to  blot  out  their  fins,  to  accept  them  as  righteous 
in  his  fight,  through  the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrifi,  and 
adopt  and  receive  them  from  being  the  children  of  Satan, 
to  be  his  own  children  ;  thus  alfo  he  goes  on  to  fan6lify, 
and  complete  the  work  of  his  grace,  begun  in  them,  to 
comfort  thcnr  with  the  confolations  of  his  Spirit,  and  to 
beftow  upon  them,  wlien  their  bodies  die,  that  eternal 
glory  wliich  is  the  fruit  of  the  purchafe  of  Chriff.  What 
is  faid,  [Rom.  viii.  30.]  '  Whom  he  did  predeftinate, 
*  them  he  alfo  called  ;  and  who!>-i  lie  called,  them  he  alfo 
'  jufiified  ;   and  wliom  he  jufiined,  them  he  alfo  glorified  ;' 

is 


INTRODUCTION.  SS 

k  applicable  to  all  ages,  from  the  fall,  to  the  end  of  the 
world. 

The  way  that  the  work  of  redemption,  with  refpeck  to 
thefc  effects  of  it  on  the  fouls  of  the  redeemed,  is  thus  car- 
ried on,  is  by  repeating  and  continually  efFedliug  the  fame 
work  over  again,  though  in  ditferent  perfons,  from  age  to 
age.     But, 

[2.]  The  work  of  redemption  with  refped  to  the 
grand  defign  in  general,  as  it  refpeds  the  univerfal  fub- 
je6l  and  end,  is  carried  on  in  a  different  manner,  not 
merely  by  repeating  or  renewing  the  fame  efFeft  in  the 
different  fubjefts  of  it,  but  bv  many  fucceffive  works  and 
difpenfations  of  God,  all  tending  to  one  great  end,  all 
united  as  the  feveral  parts  of  one  fcheme,  and  all  toge- 
ther making  up  one  great  work.  Like  as  when  an  houle 
or  temple  is  being  built ;  firft,  the  workmen  are  engaged, 
then  the  materials  are  colle6led,  the  ground  prepared,  the 
foundation  laid,  the  fuperftruilure  ere6led,  one  part  after 
another,  till  at  length  the  top-flone  is  laid,  and  all  is 
£niflied.  Now  the  work  of  redemption  in  that  exten- 
five  fenfe  which  has  been  explained,  may  be  compared  to 
fuch  a  building.  God  began  it  immediately  after  the  fall, 
as  may  be  Ihown  hereafter,  and  has  proceeded,  as  it  were, 
colle6ling  materials,  and  building,  ever  fince ;  and  fo  will 
continue  to  the  end  of  the  world;  and  then  (liall  the  top- 
ftone  be  brought  forth,  and  the  whole  appear  complete  and 
glorious. 

This  work  is  carried  on  in  the  former  refpedl,  as  to  the 
cffe6\  on  the  fouls  of  particular  perfons,  by  its  bein^^  an 
effedl  that  is  common  to  all  ages:  the  work  is  carried  in 
this  latter  refpc61:,  as  it  concerns  the  church  of  God,  and 
tbe  grand  delign  in  general,  not  only  by  that  which  is 
common  to  all  ages,  but  by  fucceffive  works  wrought  in 
ditTcrent  ages,  all  parts  of  one  great  fcheme.  It  is  this 
carrying  on  of  the  work  of  redemption  that  I  fliall  chiefly 
infill:  upon,  tliough  not  exclufively  of  the  former  ;  for  one 
neceffarily  fuppofes  the  other. 

Having  thus  explained  what  I  mean  by  the  terms  of 
the  dodlrine;  that  you  may  the  more  cleiruly  fee  how  ilie 

I  great 


r^6  HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

great  defign  and  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  tbc5' 
fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world, 

(2.)  I  now  proceed,  to  (how  what  is  the  defign  of  this 
p-reat  work,  or  what  things  are  intended  to  be  accomplifh- 
ed  by  it.  In  order  to  fee  how  a  defign  is  carried  on,  we 
muft  firfl:  know  what  It  is  r  to  know  how  a  workman 
proceeds,  and  to  tinderfland  the  various  fteps  he  tal^es  in 
order  to  accomplifh  a  piece  of  work,  we  mull:  be  inform- 
ed what  he  is  about,  and  wliat  it  is  he  intends  to  do ; 
otherwife  we  may  Hand  by,  and  fee  him  do  one  thing 
after  another,  and  be  quite  puzzled  and  in  the  dark ;  fee 
nothing  of  his  fcheme,  and  underfland  nothing  of  what 
he  means  by  it.  If  an  architect,  with  a  great  number 
of  hands,  were  building  fome  great  palace,  and  one  that 
was  a  ftranger  to  fuch  things  ihould  ftand  by,  and  iee 
fome  men  digging  in  the  eartli,  others  bringing  timber, 
others  hewing  flones,  and  the  like,  he  might  fee  that 
there  was  a  great  deal  done ;  but  if  he  knew  not  the  de- 
fign, it  would  all  appear  to  him  confufion.  And  there- 
fore, that  the  great  works  and  difpenfations  of  God  which 
belong  to  this  great  affair  ot  redemption  may  not  appear 
like  confufion  to  you,  I  flrall  fet  before  you  briefly  the 
main  things  defigned  to  be  accompliflied  in  this  great  work, 
to  accomplifh  which  God  began  to  work  fo  early  after  the 
fall,  and  will  continue  working  until  the  whole  fliall  be 
completely  finillied.  Now  the  main  things  defigned  arc 
thefe  that  follow. 

(i.)  To  put  all  God's  etiomies  under  his  feet,  and  that 
the  goodnefs  of  God  may  finally  triumph  over  all  evil. 
Soon  after  the  world  was  created,  evil  entered  into  the 
world  in  the  fall  of  the  angels  and  man.  Prefently  after 
God  had  made  rational  creatures,  there  were  enemies  who 
rofe  up  againft  him  from  among  them  ;  and  in  the  fall 
of  man  evil  entered  into  this  world,  and  God's  enemies 
rofe  up  againft  him  here.  Satan  rofe  up  againft  God,  en- 
deavouring to  fruftrate  his  defign  in  the  creation  of  this 
world,  to  dcllroy  his  workmanihip  here,  to  wreft  the 
government  out  of  his  hands,  to  \ifurp  the  throne,  and 
fet  up  himfelf  as  god  of  this  world,  inftead  of  tlic  God 

that 


INTRODUCTION.  57 

that  made  it.  For  thefc  ends  he  introduced  Cm  into  it, 
and  having  made  man  God's  enemy,  he  brought  guilt, 
death,  and  the  nioft  extreme  and  dreadful  mifery,  into 
the  world. 

Now  one  grand  dellgn  of  God  in  the  affair  of  redemp- 
tion was,  to  reduce  and  fubdue  thofe  his  enemies  till  they 
ihould  all  be  put  under  his  feet;  [i  Cor.  xv.  25.]  '  He 
*  mufl  reign  till  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet.' 
Things  were  originally  fo  planned,  that  he  might  dlfap- 
point,  confound,  and  triumph  over  Satan,  and  that  he 
might  be  bruifed  under  Chrift's  feet.  [Gen.  iii.  15.]  The 
promife  was  given,  that  the  feed  of  the  woman  /hould 
bruife  the  ferpent's  head.  It  was  a  part  of  God's  original 
defjgn  in  this  work,  to  deftroy  the  work  of  tlie  devil,  and 
confound  him  in  all  his  purpofes  :  [i  John  iii.  8.]  '  For 
'  this  purp  fe  was  the  Son  of  God  manifeflcd,  that  he 
'  might  dellroy  the  works  of  the  devil,'  It  was  a  part  of 
his  defign,  to  triumph  over  lin,  and  over  the  corruptions 
of  men,  and  to  root  them  out  of  the  hearts  of  his  people, 
by  conforming  them  to  himfelf.  He  deligned  alio,  that 
his  grace  ihould  triumph  over  m.an's  guilt,  and  the  infinite 
demerit  which  is  in  fin.  (c)  Again,  it  was  a  part  of  his 
defign  to  triumph  over  death ;  and  however  this  is  the  lafi; 
enemy  that  fhall  be  overcome,  yet  that  Ihall  finally  be 
vanquiilied  and  deftroyed. 

Tiius  God  will  appear  glorious  above  all  evil,  and  tri- 
umphant over  all  his  enemies,  whicii  was  one  grand  thin-^ 
intended  by  the  work  of  redemption. 

(2.)  God's  defign  was  perfectly  to  refiorc  the  ruins  of 
the  tall,  fo  far  as  coilcerns   the  elect  part  of  the  world. 

I  2  by 

(g)  God  tldfgned  that  his  grace  JhouJd  triumph  overman's  guilt.] 
"  Though  the  guilt  of  man  was  like  the  great  mountains,  whofe 
heads  are  lifted  up  to  the  heavens  ;  yet  his  [Chrid's]  dying  love, 
and  hi^  merits  in  this,  appeared  as  a  mighty  dehtge  that  ovei  flowed 
the  highell  mountains ;  or,  like  a  boundlefs  ocean  that  fwallows 
them  up  ;  or,  like  an  immenfe  fountain  of  light,  that  with  the 
fulnefs  and  redundance  of  its  brightnefs,  fwallows  up  men's  greateft 
iins,  as  little  rnotes  are  fwallowed  up  and  hidden  in  the  dilk  of  the 
fuu."     [Pref,  Edwards's  Poilhumous  Serm.  p.  138.] 


58  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

by  his  Son;  (h)  and  therefore  we  read  of  the  reftitution 
of  all  things,  [Afks  iii.  21.]  '   Whom  the  heaven  muft 

*  receive,  until  the  times  of  the  reftitution  of  all  things;' 
and  of  the  times  of  refrefhing  from  the  prefence  of  the 
Lord  Jefus.  [A6ts  iii.  19.]  '  Repent  ye  therefore  and  be 
^  converted,  that  your  fins  may  be  blotted  out,  when  the 
'  time  of  refrefliing  fhall  come  from  the  prefence  of  the 
«  Lord.' 

Man'sy&tt/  was  ruined  by  the  fall ;  the  image  of  God  was 
defaced  ;  man's  nature  was  corrupted,  and  he  became  dead 
in  fin.  The  defign  of  God  was,  to  reflore  the  foul  of 
man ;  to  reflore  life,  and  the  image  of  God,  in  conver- 
fion ;  and  to  carry  on  this  work  in  fandlification,  until  he 
fhould  perfedl  it  in  glory.  Man's  body  was  ruined;  by 
the  fall  it  became  fubjedl  to  death.  The  defign  of  God 
was  to  reftore  it  from  this  ruin,  and  not  only  to  deliver  it 
from  death,  by  the  refurredlion,  but  to  deliver  it  from 
"mortality  itlelf,  in  making  it  like  unto  Chrift's  glorious 
body.  The  it'5r/(^  was  ruined,  as  to  m::n,  as  effedlually  as 
if  it  had  been  reduced  to  chaos  again ;  all  heaven  and  earth 
were  overthrown.  But  the  delign  of  God  was,  to  reftore 
all,  and  as  it  were  to  create  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth: 
[Ifa.  Ixv.  ly.]   '  Behold  I  create  new  heavens,  and  a  new 

*  earth ;    and   the   former   fliall   not  be   remembered,    nor 

*  come  into  mind.'  [2  Pet.  iii.  13.]  '  Neverthelefs  we, 
'  according  to  his  promife,  look  for  new  heavens,  and  a 
'  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteoufnefs.' 

The  work  by  which  this  was  to  be  done,  was  begun 
immediately  after  the  fall,  and  fo  is  carried  on  till  all  is 
iiniihed  at  the  end,  when  the  whole  world,  heaven  and 
earth,  fliall  be  reftored  ;  and  there  fliall  be,  as  it   were, 

new 

(h)  God's  defign  luas  to  rejlore  the  ruins  of  the  fall  as  far  as  con- 
eerns  the  z-L's.CT.'l  Some  have  carried  the  propofition  farther,  and 
extended  it  to  not  only  all  mankind,  but  even  the  fallen  angds; 
and  have  fiippofed  that  the  very  being  of  moral  and  penal  evil  will 
ceafe.  But  it  will  appear  in  the  fequcl  of  this  work,  that  God's 
plan  does  not  extend  fo  far :  '  the  reftitution,'  or  rather  '  regu- 
lation  of  all  things,'  feems  to  refer  to  the  general  judgment. 
[See  Park  HURST,  Lex.  in  A7r&;K«Tar«7if,  and  Doddridge  i.i 
loc.]     [N.  N.l 


INTRODUCTION.  59 

new  heavens,  and  a  new  earth,  in  a  fpiritual  and  fublime 
fenfe,  at  the  end  of  the  world.  Thus  it  is  reprefented, 
[  Rev .  xxi .  I .  ]  '  And  I  faw  anew  heaven  and  a  new  earth  ; 
'  for  the  firtt  heaven  and  the  firll:  earth  were  paffed  away.' 

(3.)  Another  great  defign  of  God  in  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion was  to  gather  together  in  one,  all  things  in  Chrift, 
both  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  i.  e.  all  elecSl  creatures,  (i) 
in  heaven  and  in  earth,  to  an  union  in  one  body,  under 
one  head;  and  to  unite  all  together  in  one  body  to  God  the 
Father.  This  was  begun  foon  after  the  fall,  and  is  carried 
on  throughout  all  ages,  and  fnall  be  finiihed  at  the  end  of 
the  world. 

(4.)  God  dcfigns  by  this  work  to  perfe6l  and  complete 
the  glory  of  all  the  ele6t  of  Ciirifl:.  To  advance  them  to 
an  exceeding  pitch  of  glory,  '  fuch  as  eye  hath  not  feen, 
'  nor  ear  heard,  nor  has  ever  entered  into  the  heart  of 
'  man.'  He  intends  to  bring  them  to  pcrfe6l  excellency 
and  beauty  in  his  image,  and  in  holinefs,  which  is  the 
proper  beauty  of  fpiritual  beings;  and  to  advance  them 
to    a  glorious   degree  of  honour,    an    ineffable    height  of 

pleafare 

(  I  )  Another  defign  of  God  was  to  gather  together  in  Chrifl  all  eha 
treatures  ;  i.  e.  Angels  as  well  as  men,  '  That  in  the  difpenfa- 

*  tion  of  the  fuliiefs  of  times,  he  might  gather  together  all  things 

*  in  Chrift,  both  which  are  in  heaven  and  which  are  in  earth,  even 

*  in  him,  ....  who  is  the  head  of  all  principality  and  power.' 
[Eph.  i.  10. — Col.  ii.  10.]  "  That  Chrift,  God-man,  fliould  be 
made  the  head  of  the  angels,  is  greatly  to  their  benefit.  1.  Be- 
caufe  they  thereby  become  more  nearly  related  to  fo  glorious  a 
pcrfon.  .  .  ..  He  is  theirs  :  though  not  their  faviour,  yet  he  is 
their  head  of  government  and  head  of  influence. — 2.  They,  here- 
by, are  under  advantages  for  a  far  more  intimate  converfe  with 
God.  The  divine  nature  is  at  an  infinite  diftance  from  the  nature 
of  angels,  as  well  as  from  the  nature  of  man.  It  is  thei-efore  a 
great  advantage  to  the  angels  that  God  is  come  down  to  them  in 
a  created  nature,  and  in  that  nature  is  become  their  head.  3. 
Men  are  brought  in  to  join  with  angels  ...  in  their  work  of  praif- 
ing  God.  The  angels  greatly  rejoice  at  this.  [Luke  xv.  10.] 
The  vacancy  by  the  fall  of  angels  is  filled  up.  4.  It  tends  to 
make  the  angels  the  more  to  prize  their  happinefs,  when  they  fee 
how  much  it  coll;  to  purchafe  the  fame  happinefs  for  man."  [Pref. 
Edwards's  Pofthumous  Sermons,  p.  320.] 


6o  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

pleafure  and  joy,  and  thus  to  glorify  the  whole  church  of 
ele6t  men  in  foul  and  body;  and  with  them  to  bring  the 
•o-lory  of  the  eleft  angels  to  its  highefl  elevation  under  on« 
head. 

(5.)  In  all  this  God  defigned  to  accompliih  the  glory 
of  the  blefled  Trinity  in  an  eminent  degree.  God  had  a 
deiign  from  eternity  to  glorify  each  perfon  in  the  God- 
head. The  end  mufl:  be  confidered  as  iirfl  in  order  of 
nature,  and  then  the  means ;  and  therefore  we  muft  con- 
ceive, that  God  having  profeffed  this  end,  had  then,  as  it 
were,  the  means  to  chufe ;  and  the  principal  mean  that  he 
pitched  upon  was  this  great  work  of  redemption  which  we 
are  fpeaking  of.  It  was  his  defign  in  this  work  to  glorify 
his  only  begotten  fon,  Jefus  Chrift ;  (k)  and  by  the  Son 
to  glorify  the  Father;  [John  xiii.  31,  32.]  '  Now  is  the 
<  Son  of  man  glorified,  and  God  is  glorified  in  him.  If 
*  God  be  gloritied  in  him,  God  alfo  fliall  glorify  him 
'  in  himfeif,  and  fliall  ftraightway  glorify  him.'  It  was 
his  defign  that  the  Son  fhould  thus  be  glorified,  and 
fliould  glorify  the  Father  by  what  fhould  be  accomplifhed 
by  the  Spirit,  to  the  glory  of  the  Spirit;  that  the  whole 
Trinity  conjunftly,  and  each  perfon  di6linclly,  might  be 
exceedingly  gloritied.  The  work  which  was  the  appoint- 
ed mean  of  this  was  begun  immediately  after  the  fall, 
and  is  carried  on  till,  and  finiihed  at,  the  end  of  the 
world,  when  ail  this  intended  glory  iliall  be  fully  accom- 
pllflied. 

Having  thus  explained  the  terms  made  ufe  of  in  the 
dodlrine,  and  fliown  what  things  are  to  be  accomplilhed 
by  this- great  work  of  God,  I  proceed  now  to  the  propo- 
fed  Hiftory  ;  that  is,  to  Ihow  how  the  defjgns  of  God  by 

the 

(k)  //  luas  God's  defign  to  glorify  his  Son.]  "  Look  round  on 
the  fhifting  fcenes  of  glory,  which  have  been  exhibited  in  the  thea- 
tre of  this  world;  and  fee  the  fuccefs  of  mighty  conquerors,  the 
policy  of  ftates,  the  dcftiny  of  empires,  depend  on  the  fccret  pur- 
pofe  of  God  in  his  Son  Jefus  ;  before  whom  all  the  atchlevemcnts 
and  imaginations  of  men  nuift  bow  down;  and  to  vvhofe  honour, 
all  the  myllerious  workings  of  his  providence  are  now,  liuve  hi- 
therto been,  and  will  for  ever  be,  direfted."-  [Bp.  Hurd's  Serm, 
Jsefore  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel.^ 


INTRODUCTION.  6i 

the  work  of  ledemption  have  been  and  rtiallbe  accomplilh- 
ed,  in  the  various  fteps  of  this  work,  from  the  fall  of  man 
to  the  end  of  tlie  world. 

In  order  to  this,  I  fhall  divide  this  whole  fpace  of  time 
into  three  periods :— The 

I.  Reaching  from  the  fall  of  Man  to  the  incarnation  of 
Chrift ;— The 

IT.  From  Chrift's  incarnation  till  his  refurredlion  ;  — 
The 

III.   From  thence  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

Some  may  be  ready  to  think  this  a  very  unequal  divi- 
fion  ;  and  it  is  fo  indeed  in  fome  refpedls.  It  is  fo,  be- 
caufe  the  fecond  period  is  fo  much  the  greatefl: :  for  al- 
though it  be  much  fhorter  than  either  of  the  other,  (being 
but  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  whereas  both  the  other 
contain  thoufands;)  yet  in  the  affair  we  are  now  upon,  it 
is  more  than  both  the  others ;  I  would  therefore  proceed 
to  fhew  diftindlly  how  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried 
on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world,  through 
each  of  thefe  periods  in  their  order;  which  I  fl:iall  do  under 
three  propofitions ;  one  concerning  each  period  : 

I.  From  the   fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation 

OF  CHRIST,  GOD  WAS  DOING  THOSE  THINGS  WHICH 
WERE  PREPARATORY  TO  HIS  COMING,  AND  EAR- 
NESTS   OF    HIS    REDEMPTION. 

II.  That  the  time  from  Christ's  incarnation, 

TO  HIS  RESUPvRECTION,  WAS  EMPLOYED  IN  PRO- 
CURING   AND    PURCHASING    REDEMPTION. 

HI.  That  the  space  of  time  from  the  resur- 
rection OF  CHRIST  to  the  END  OF  THE  WORLD 
IS  ALL  ENGAGED  IN  BRINGING  ABOUT  THE  GREAT 
EFFECT,    OR    SUCCESS,    OF    THAT    PURCHASE. 

In  a  particular  confidcration  of  thefe  three  propofitions, 
the  great  truth  contained  in  the  do6lrine  may  perhaps  ap- 
pear in  a  clear  light,  and  we  may  fee  how  the  work  of 
redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of 
the  world, 

PERIOD 


6z  HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 


PERIOD      I. 

FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  INCARNATION. 


M 


,Y  firfl  tafl<.  is,  to  (how  how  the  work  of  redem])tioo 
is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chr'ijl 
under  thtfirf  propofitioHy  viz. 

That  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarna- 
tion OF  CHRIST,  GOD  WAS  DOING  THOSE  THINGS 
which  WERE  PREPARATORY  TO  HIS  COMING,  AND 
EARNESTS    OF    HIS    REDEMPTION. 

The  great  works  of  God  in  the  world,  during  this 
whole  fpace  of  time,  were  all  preparatory  to  this.  There 
were  many  great  changes  and  revolutions  in  the  world, 
but  they  were  only  the  turning  of  the  wheels  of  provi- 
dence in  order  to  make  way  for  the  coming  of  Chrift, 
and  what  he  was  to  do  in  the  world.  They  were  all 
pointed  hither,  and  all  iffued  here.  Hither  tended,  ef- 
pecially,  all  God's  great  works  towards  his  church.  The 
church  w-as  under  various  difpenfations  and  in  various 
circumilances,  before  Chrift  came;  but  all  thefe  difpen- 
fations were  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming.  God 
wrought  falvation  for  the  fouls  of  men  through  all  that 
fpace  of  time,  though  the  number  was  very  fmall  to 
what  it  was  afterwards ;    (l)   and  all  his  falvation  was,  as 

it 

( L )  The  number  of  fouls  faved  before  Chrift' s  coining,  comparal'tvely^ 
very  few.]  There  is  no  fiibjeft  on  which  our  fpeculatioiis  have 
lefs  certainty  than  that  of  the  comparative  number  of  the  faved. 
Among  angels  forae  have  fuppofed  thofe  who  fell  to  form  at  leaft 
one  third  of  the  whole;  and  other  confign  over  a  great  majo- 
rity of  mankind  to  the  fame  awful  condemnation.  But  '  God's 
thoughts  are  not  our  thoughts,  neither  his  ways  as  our  ways.' 

As  to  the  antient  Jews,  althougli  their  difpenfation  was  compa- 
ratively dark,  and  their  temper  naturally  rebellious,  we  have  rca- 
fon  to  believe  an  innumerable  multitude  was  faved  from  among 
them.     If  in  times  of  o-encval  idolatrv  and  liccntioufnefs,  when  a 

holy 


I  rJ  T  R  O  D  U  C  T  I  O  N.  63 

It  were,  by  way  of  anticipation.  All  the  fouls  that  were 
faved  before  Chiiil;  came,  were  only,  as  it  were,  the  ear- 
ned: of  the  future  harvcft. 

God  wrought  many  leffer  falv'ations  and  deliverances 
for  his  church  and  people  before  Chrilt  came.  Thefe 
falvations  were  all  but  fo  many  images  and  forerunners  of 
the  great  faJvation  Chrift  was  to  work  out  when  he 
fliould  come.  God  revealed  himfelf  of  old,  from  time 
to  time,  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  coming  of  Chrifl:. 
The  church  during  that  fpace  of  time  enjoyed  the  light 
of  divine  revelation,  and,  in  a  degree,  the  light  of  the 
gofpel.  But  all  thefe  revelations  were  only  earnefts  of  the 
great  light  that  he  ihould  bring  who  came  to  be  '  the  light 
'  of  the  world  ;'  that  whole  fpace  of  time  was,  as  it  were, 
the  time  of  night,  wherein  the  church  of  God  was  not 
indeed  wholly  in  darknefs,  but  it  was  like  the  light  of  the 
moon  and  ftars,  and  not  to  be  compared  with  the  light 
of  the  fun.  It  '  had  no  glory,  by  reafon  of  the  glory  that 
excelieth.'  [2.  Cor.  iii.  10.]  The  church  had  indeed  the 
light  of  the  fun,  but  it  was  only  as  refleiSled  from  the 
moon  and  flars.  The  church  all  that  while  may  be  con- 
fidcred  as  a  minor;  this  the  apoflle  evidently  teaches  [in 
Gal.  iv.  I,  2,  3.]  *  Now  I  fay,  that  the  heir  as  long  as 
'  he  is  a  child,  dIfFereth  nothing  from  a  fervant,  tlioun-Ji 
■^  he  be  lord  of  all ;  bat  is  under  tutors  and  c:overnors, 
'  until  the  time  appointed  of  the  Father.  Even  fo  wc, 
»  when  We  were  children,  were  in  bondage  under  the  ele- 
'  lYients  of  the  world.' 

K  But 

holy  prophet  bewailed  himfelf  as  the  only  fervant  of  the  true  God 
left :  if,  in  fuch  a  time  God  had  referved  to  himfelf  fcven  thoufand 
faithful  worfhippers,  [i.  Kings  xix.  10.]  doubtlcfs  at  other  times, 
when  religion  fiouriihed,  their  number  mull  be  confidcrably 
greater. 

But  the  Heathen  nations  are  by  many  totally  given  up,  except 
here  and  there  a  perfon  faved  by  miracle,  *  God's  ways,  however, 
♦  are  not  as  our  ways,'  and  it  was  as  pofflble  for  God  to  fave  them 
without  the  ufual  means  of  grace,  as  to  fave  infants  without  any 
external  means  at  all. 

After  all,  had  God  fuffered  our  whole  world  to  periih,  what  is 
It  to  the  innumerable  globes  that  float  in  his  prefence  ?  Probably 
not  more  than  tlie  deftruftlon  of  an  ant  hill,  or  a  bee  hive,  to  the 
whole  fpccies  of  ants  or  bees [N.  U.] 


64  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

But  here,  for  the  greater  clearnefs  and  diftindtnefs,  I 
fhall  fubdivide  this  period  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  com- 
ing of  Chrift,  into  fix  leffer  periods. 

I.  From  the  fall  to  the  flood  ; — 
II.  From  the  flood  to  the  calling  of  Abraham ; — 

III.  From  the  calling  of  Abraham  to  Mofes  ;— 

IV.  From  Mofes  to  David ; — 

V.  From  David  to  the  Babylonifli  captivity  ;— and  the 
VL  From  thence  to  the  Incarnation  of  Chrifl:. 


§  I.  From  the  FALL  to  the  flood. 

THIS  was  a  period  farthefl:  of  all  dift:ant  from  Chrifl's 
incarnation ;  yet  then  was  this  great  work  begun,  this 
glorious  building  which  will  not  be  finiflied  till  the  end 
of  the  world  ;  and  this  is  what  I  am  now  to  fiievv  you : 
to  this  purpofe  I  would  obferve, 

I.  As  foon  as  man  fell,  Chrifl:  entered  on  his  media- 
torial work.  Then  it  was  that  he  firfl:  began  to  execute 
the  work  and  oflice  of  a  mediator.  He  had  undertaken 
it  before  the  world  was  made.  He  fl;ood_  engaged  with 
the  Father  from  eternity  to  appear  as  man's  mediator, 
when  there  ihould  be  occafion :  and  now  the  time  was 
come.  When  man  fell,  Chrift  immediately  entered  on 
his  work,  and  a6tually  took  upon  him  that  office.  Then 
Chrift,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  cloathed  himfelf  witli 
the  mediatorial  characfVer,  and  therein  prefented  himfelf 
before  the  Father.  He  immediately  ftepped  in  between 
an  holy,  infinite,  oflcndcd  majefty,  and  offending  man- 
kind ;  and  was  accepted  in  his  interpofition  ;  and  thus 
wrath  was  prevented  from  going  forth  in  tlie  full  exe- 
cution of  that  curie  which  man  had  brought  upon  him- 
felf. 

It  is  manifeft  that  Chrift  began  to  exercife  the  office  of 
mediator  between  God  and  man  as  foon  as  man  fell,  be- 
caufe  mercy  began  to  be  exercifcd  towards  man  immedi- 
ately. 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   6s 

ately.  There  was  mercy  In  the  forbearance  of  God,  (m) 
that  he  did  not  deftroy  him,  as  he  did  the  angels  when 
they  fell:- but  there  is  no  mercy  excrcifed  toward  fallen 
man,  but  through  a  mediator.  If  God  had  not  in  mer- 
cy reftrained  Satan,  he  would  have  immediately  feized  on 
his  prey.  Chrift  began  to  dp  the  part  of  an  interceflbr 
for  man,  as  foon  as  he  tell.  There  is  no  mercy  exercifed 
towards  man,  but  what  is  obtained  through  Chrifl's  in- 
tcrceffion  ;  fo  that  now  Chrift  entered  on  that  work 
which  he  was  to  continue  throughout  all  ages  of  the  world. 
From  that  day.  forward  Chrift  took  upon  him  the  care  of 
the  church,  in  the  exerclfe  of  all  his  offices ;  from  thence 
he  undertook  to  teacli  mankind  in  the  exercife  of  his  pro- 
phetical office;  to  intercede  for  them,  in  his  prieftly  of- 
fice ;  alfo  he  took  upon  him  the  government  of  the  church, 
and  of  the  world.  He  from  that  time  took  upon  him 
the  defence  of  his  eleft  from  all  their  enemies.  When 
Satan,  the  grand  enemy,  had  conquered  and  overthrown 
man,  the  bufinefs  of  refifting  and  conquering  him  was 
conimitted  to  Chrift ;  and  he  undertook  to  manage  that 
fubtle  powerful  adverfary.  He  was  then  appointed  the 
captain  of  the  Lord's  hofts,  and  the  captain  of  their  fal- 
vation,  and  ever  after  a6fed,  and  will  continue  to  act,  as 
fuch  to  the  end  of  the  world.  Thenceforward  this  world, 
with  all  its  concerns,  was,  as  it  were,  devolved  upon  the 
Son  of  God:  for  when  man  had  fmned,  God  the  Father 
would  have  no  more  to  do  with   man   immediately ,   but 

K  .2  only 

(m)  There  ivas  mercy  hithe  forbearance  of  God.~\  Milton, 
with  whom  our  author  frequently  coincides,  puts  this  fentimcnt 
into  the  mouth  of  Adam,  in  his  confolatory  addrefs  to  Eve. 

"  Remember  with  what  mild 

And  gracious  temper  he  both  heard  and  judg'd, 
Without  wrath  or  reviling  :   we  expefted 
Immediate  difTolution,   which  we  thought 

Was  meant  by  death  that  day  ;  when  lo,  to  thee  *> 

Pains  only  in  child  bearing  were  foretold. 
And  bringing  forth,  foon  recompens'd  with  joy, 
Fruit  of  thy  womb:  on  me  the  ciufe  aflope 
Glanc'd  on  the  ground"     .  .  .  [Par.  Loft,  Book  x.] 

This  fubjed,  and  Milton's  beautiful  iiliiftratlun  of  it,  we  ihali 
have  occafion  lo  refume  In  the  fequel  of  this  feftion. 


66  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

only  through  a  mediatoi';  either  in  teaching,  in  govern- 
ing, or  in  beflowing  any  beneiits  upon  him. 

And  therefore,  when  we  read  in  facred  hiflory  what 
God  did  from  time  to  time  for  his  church  and  people,  and 
liow  he  revealed  himfelf  to  them,  we  are  to  underftand 
it  efpecially  of  the  fecond  perfon  of  the  Trinity.  When 
we  read  of  God's  appearing  after  the  fall,  frequently  in 
fome  vifible  form,  or  outward  lymbol  of  his  pretence,  wc 
are  ordinarily,  if  not  univerfally,  to  underftand  it  of  the 
Son  of  God.   (n)      This  may  be  argued  from  John  i.  i8. 

*  No  man  hath  feen  God  at  any  time;  the  only  begotten 
*^  Son,  which  is  in  tlie  bofom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  de- 

*  clared  him.'     He   is  therefore  called  '  the  image  of  the 

*  invifible  God,'  [Col.  i.  15.]  intimating,  that  though 
God  the  Father  be  invifible,  yet  Chrift  is  his  image,  or  re- 
prefentation,  by  which  he  is  feen. 

Yea,  not  only  this  world  devolved  on  Chrifl:,  that  he 
might  have  the  care  and  government  of  it,  and  order  it 
agreeably  to  his  defign  of  redemption,  but  alfo  in  fome 
refpecl,  the  whole  univerfe.  The  angels  from  that  time 
were  given  unto  liim,  to  be  miniflering  fpirits  in  this  grand 
buhnefs ;  and  accordingly  were  fo  from  this  time,  as  is 
manifeft  by  the  fcripture  hiftory,  wherein  we  have  accounts 
of  their  acting  as  fuch  in  the  affairs  of  the  church  of  Chrift, 
from  time  to  timq. 

And  therefore  we  may  fuppofe,  that  immediately  on 
the  fall,  it  was  made  known  in  heaven  (o)  that  God  had 

a  defi'in 


(n)  IVhen  nuc  read  of  God's  appearing  after  tJ>e  fall,  ive  are 
to  underflatid  it  of  the  Son  of  God.'}  The  principal  appearances  here 
alluded  to,  and  the  perfon  thus  appearing,  will  be  coniidered  under 
§  VI.  of  this  period. 

(o)  God's  defign  of  mercy  made  knoivn  in  heaven  immediately 
on  the  fall. }  Milton,  with,  at  leaft,  equal  beauty  and  probability, 
fuppofcs  this  diicovcry  to  have  preceded  the  fall.  He  reprefents 
the  eternal  Father  as  viewing  Satan  flying  tovvards  this  world, 
and  foretelling  his  fucccfs,  and  his  own  purpofes  of  grace  in  the 
ilTue.  The  pafTage,  as  it  is  extremely  -beautiful  and  will  illuftratc 
not  only  this,  but  feveral  other  of  our  author's  obfcivations  under 
ihis  fetiion,  we  Ihall  in  part  tranfciibc  ; 

«  Him 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   6^ 

■A  defign  of  redemption  with  refpcft  to  man  ;  that  Chrift 
had  now  taken  upon  him  the  office  and  work  of  a  mediator 

between 

*'  Him  [Satan]  God  beholding  from  his  profpeft  high, 
Wherein  pad,  prefent,  future,  he  beholds, 
Thus  to  his  only  Son  forefeeing  fpake  : 

"  Only  begotten  Son,  feed  thou  what  rage 

Tranfpovts  our  adverfary  ? 

■ And  now 

Through  all  reftraints  broke  loofe,  he  v/ings  his  way 

Not  far  off  heaven,  in  the  precinfts  of  light, 

Direftly  towards  the  new-created  world  ; 

And  man  there  plac'd,  with  purpofe  to  effay, 

If  him  by  force  he  can  deftroy,  or  worfe, 

By  fome  falfe  guile  pervert :  and  fliall  pervert, 

For  man  will  hearken  to  his  glozing  lies, 

And  cafily  tranfgrefs  the  fole  command, 

Sole  pledge  of  his  obedience  ;  fo  will  fall 

He  and  his  faithlefs  progeny 

Man  falls,  deceiv'd 

By  th'othcr  firfl :  man  therefore  fhall  find  grace, 
The  other  none  :  in  mercy  and  juftice  both, 
Through  heav'n  and  earth,  fo  fliall  my  glory  excell ; 

But  mercy,  firft  and  laft,  fhall  brighteft  fliine. 

"  Thus  while  God  fpake,  ambrofial  fragrance  hll'd 

All  heav'n,  and  in  the  bleffed  fpirits  eleft 

Senfe  of  new  joy  ineffable  difFus'd  : 

Beyond  compare  the  §on  of  God  was  fecn 

Mod  glorious  ;  in  him  all  his  Father  fhone 

Subftantially  exprefs'd  ;  and  in  his  face 

Divine  compafTion  viiibly  appear'd, 

Love  without  end,  and  without  meafure,  grace  ; 

Which  uttering,  thus  he  to  his  Father  fpake  : 

"  O  Father,  gracious  was  that  word  which  clos'd 

Thy  fov'reign  fentcnce,  that  man  fliould  find  grace  ; 

For  which  both  heaven  and  earth  fhall  high  extoll 

Thy  praifes.   ...   - 

"  To  whom  the  great  Creator  thus  reply'd  ; 

O  Son,  in  whom  my  foul  hath  chief  delight. 


But  all  is  not  yet  done  ;  man  difobeying. 

He,  with  his  whole  poUerity,  mufl  die  ; 
Die  he  or  juflice  mull ;  unlefs  for  him 
Some  able,  and  as  willing,  pay 
The  rigid  fatisfacliun,  death  for  death, 

'Sav, 


6$  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

between  God  and  man  ;  and  that  the  angels  were  hence- 
forward to  be  fubfervient  to  him  in  that  ofl&ce  :  and  as  Chrift 
has  been,  fince  that  time,  as  God-man,  exalted  King  of 
heaven  ;  and  is  thenceforward  a  Mediator,  the  Light,  and 
the  Sun  of  heaven,    (agreeable  to  Rev.  xxi.  23.  '  And  the 

*  city  had  no  need  of  the  fun,  neither  of  the  moon,  to  fhine 
'  in  it ;  for  the  glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb 

*  is  the  light  thereof ;')  fo  the  revelation  now  made  in  hea- 
ven among  the  angels,  was,  as  it  were,  the  firft  dawning 
of  this  light  tliere.  When  Chrift  afcended  into  glory  after 
his  paffion,  and  was  folemnly  enthroned,  then  this  fun  arofc 
in  heaven  ;  but  the  light  began  to  dawn  immediately  after 
the  fall. 

2.  Pre- 

Say,  heav'nly  pow'rs,  where  fhaU  we  find  fuch  love  ?  < 

He  aflc'd  ;  but  all  the  heav'nly  choir  flood  mute. 
And  iileiice  was  in  heav'n  :  on  man's  behalf 
patron  or  interceffor  none  appear'd. 

Had  not  the  Son  of  God, 

In  whom  the  fulnefs  dvv'ells  of  love  divine, 
His  deareft  mediation  thus  renew'd. 

**   Father,  thy  word  is  paft,  man  fhall  find  grace  ; 
And  fliall  not  grace  find  means  ? 
Behold  Me  then  ;  Me  for  him,  life  for  life 
I  offer ;  on  me  let  all  thine  anger  fall. 

Admiration  feiz'd 

All  heav'n,  what  this  might  mean,  and  whither  tend, 

Wond'ring." [Par.  Loit,  b.  ill.] 

But  the  idea  of  Mr.  Gessner  exaftly  coincides  with  our  au- 
thor's. He  introduces  an  angel  addrcfTing  our  firil  parents  in  the 
following  elegant  language  : 

"  Know  then,  Adam  !  on  thy  tranfgrefling  the  divine  command, 
God  faid  to  the  happy  fplrits  who  worfhip  before  him,  '  Man  hath 

*  difobeyed  me ;  he  fhall  die.'  A  denfe  cloud  fuddenly  encom- 
pafTed  the  eternal  throne,  and  a  deep  file  nee  reigned  through  the 
whole  expanfe  of  heaven.  .  .  .  The  adoring  angels  were  in  eager 
cxpeftafion  of  v/hat  was  to  follow  this  nnufual  pomp,  when  the 
majeilic  voice  of  God  founded  .  .  .  thcfe  words  of  benignity  and 
grace — '  I  will  not  withdraw  my  favour  from  the  finncr.     To  my 

*  infinite  mercy  the  earth  fiiall  bear  v/itncfs.     Of  the  woman  fliall 

*  he  born  an  avenger,  who   fhall  bruifc  the  head  of  the  ferpent. 

*  Hell  ihall  not  rejoice  in  this  vidory  ;  denth  Ihall  lofe  its  prey  ;  ye 

*  heavens,  (hew  forth  your  gladntfs  ! — Thus  fpake  the  EtcrnaL" 
[Death  of  Abel,  b.  il.l— -[N.  U.} 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   69 

2.  Prefendy  upon  this  the  gofpel  was  firft  revealed  on 
earth,  in   thefe  words,   [Gen.  iii.  15.]  <  And  I  will  put 

*  enmity  between  thee  [the  ferpent]  and  tlie  woman,  and 

*  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed  :  it  fliall  brulfe  thy  head, 
'  and  thou  flialt  bruife  his  heel.'  We  may  fuppofe,  that 
God's  intention  of  redeeming  fallen  man  was  hrft  fignified 
in  heaven  before  it  was  fignified  on  earth,  becaufe  the  bu- 
fniefs  of  the  angels  as  miniftering  fpirits  required  it  that 
they  might  be  ready  immediately  to  ferve  him  in  that  office: 
fo  that  the  light  firft  dawned  in  heaven  ;  but  very  foon  after 
was  feen  on  earth.  In  thofe  words  of  God  there  was  an 
intimation  of  another  furety  to  be  appointed  for  man,  after 
the  firll  had  failed.  This  was  the  firft  revelation  of  the 
covenant  of  grace,  the  firft  dawn  of  light  of  the  gofpel  upon 
earth. 

This  world  before  the  fall  enjoyed  noon-day  light  ; 
the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  God,  of  his  glory,  and  of 
his  favour :  but  when  man  fell,  all  this  light  was  at 
once  extinguiflied,  and  the  world  reduced  again  to  total 
darknefs  ;  a  darknefs  worfe  than  that  which  was  in  the 
beginning  of  the  world.  [Gen.  i.  2.]  Neither  men  nor 
angels  could  find  out  any  way  whereby  this  mip^ht  be 
fcattered.  The  blacknefs  of  this  darknefs  appeared  when 
Adam  and  his  wife  knew  that  they  were  naked,  and  fewed 
fig  leaves  ;  when  they  heard  tlie  voice  of  God  walkincp 
in  the  garden,  and  hid  themfelves  among  the  trees,  when 
God  firft  called  them  to  an  account,  and  fald  to  Adam, 

*  What  is  this  that  thou  haft  done  ?  Haft  tliou  eaten  of  the 
'  tree,  whereof  I  commanded  thee  that  thou  fliouldeft  not 

*  eatr'  Then  we  may  fuppofe  that  their  hearts  were 
filled  with    ftiame   and  terror,    (p)      But   thofe  words    of 

God, 

(p)  ^ilam  and  Ins  <wifc  hiciu  that  they  lucre  naked,  £ffr.]  A 
variety  of  queries  have  been  Hated  from  the  pafTage  here  alluded 
to,  [Gen.  iii.  8 — 11.]  and  a  number  of  folutions  given  ;  feme  of 
thcfe  we  fliall  review,  as  they  conneft  clofcly  with  our  fubjeft. 

We  fliall  begin  with  the  ininicdiate  conlequence  of  the  fin  of  our 
firft  parents — *  And  the  eyes  of  them  both  w^re  opened,  and  tjiey 

*  knew  that  they  were  naked.'  Tlic  celebrated  Le  Clerc,  and 
ibinc  other  ingenioji  coaimcntators,  have  uippofed  the  nakcdefs 

here 


70  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

God,  [Gen.  iii.  15.]  were  the  firft  dawning  of  the  light 
of  the   goi'pel   after   this    darknefs.      Now   lirft    appeared 

fomc 

he're  alhided  to  was  moral,  viz.  a  lofs  of  innocence;  and  it  mufl: 
be  confefled,  in  a  few  inftances  the  Scripture  ufes  the  term  in  this 
metaphorical  fenfe,  [See  Stackhouse's  Hift.  of  the  Bible,  voL  u 
p.  74.3  but  two  circumilances  pofitively  forbid  our  fo  taking  it  in 
this  place — one  is,  that  the  lafh  verfe  of  the  preceding  chapter  af- 
fures  us  that  they  were  naked  l^efore  the  fall,  which  mufl  certainly 
intend  a  literal  nakednefs  ;  the  other,  that  in  confequence  of  this 
nakednefs  they  made  themfelves  coveritigs,  which  certainly  were 
for  their  bodies,  and  not  their  minds.  But  why  fhould  they  who 
never  had  worn  any  cloathing,  be  afnamed  of  appearing  in  the  ftate 
in  Avhich  God  created  them  ;  elpecially  when  we  confider,  that 
themfelves  were  the  only  pevfons  in  the  world,  and  they  v^'ere  man 
and  wife  ?  The  anfwer  to  this  involves  a  very  delicate,  and  as  it 
fliould  feem,  from  the  ill  fuccefs  of  commentators,  a  very  difh- 
cult  fubjeft.  We  muft  return  to  the  previous  affertion  of  our 
infpired  writer,  that  *  they  were'  in  a  Hate  of  innocence,  '  both 

*  naked,  and  not  afliamed  ;'  which  certainly  implies,  not  only 
that  their  nakednefs  was  no  juft  caufc  of  fliame,  but  that  they 
woidd  never  have  known  it,  had  their  innocency  continued.  But 
when  they  finned,  then,  as  the  Tempter  had  predicted,  their 
eyes  were  opened.  To  open  the  eyes  is,  literally,  to  give  fight  to 
the  blind  ;  but  figuratively,  to  communicate  to  any  perfon  a  new 
kind  or  degree  of  knowledge.  [See  Num.  xxii.  31.  2.  Kings 
vi.  17.     Afts  xxvi.  18.] 

And  the  following  phrafe,  which  we  render  *  they  knew  that 

*  they  were  naked,'  implies  fomething  more  than  a  bare  fpecula- 
tive  knowledge,  it  means  to  feel  as  well  as  to  inott-,  [See  Park- 
hurst  in  ];t]  and  might  be  here  perhaps  more  accurately  and 
exprefiively  rendered,  '  they  were  fen/ili/e  that  they  were  naked." 
Before  the  fall  they  doubtlefs  knew  that  they  had  no  cloathing  ; 
but  now  their  eyey  were  opened,  and  they  had  acquired  a  crimi- 
nal knowledge,  and  become  fenfible  of  a  pafhon,  to  which  they 
had  ever  before  been  ibangers,  namely,  fhame.  The  origin  of 
this  will  be  cafier  to  account  for,  if  we  fuppofe  with  fome  [Uni- 
\-erfal  Hift.  vol.  i.  p.  132.]  that  the  juice  of  tliis  tree  was  in  a 
degree  inebriating  ;  fince  we  know  from  common  obfervation,  that 
juices  of  fuch  a  quality  will  excite  debauchery,  produce  ftrange 
commotions  in  the  animal  frame,  and  give  a  ftrong  predominancy 
to  the  animal  appetites.  Under  thefe  circumilances  we  need  not 
wonder  at  the  fubterfuges  to  which  the-y  ran,  fince  it  is  never  ex- 
pefted  that  the  conduct  of  perfons  under  the  power  of  intoxica- 
tion, or  the  opprefiion  of  guilt,  fliould  be  perfeflly  confillent 
witl\  the  rules  of  cool  reflection. 

There  is  one  circumftance  which  has  not  h3tn  perhaps  fuffici- 
ently  attended  to,  namely,  that  they  were  ufed  to  cxpeft  the  di- 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   71 

fome  glimmering  of  light ;  but  it  was  an  obfcure  revelation 
of  the  gofpcl  ;  and  was  not  made  to  Adam  or  Eve  directly, 

but 

vine  Prefence,  and  that  probably  in  a  glorious  human  form  ;  this 
might  be  one  reafon  of  their  covering  their  nakednefs  now,  as  it 
was  immediately  after,  of  their  feeking  to  hide  their  perfons 
among  the  trees  of  the  garden.  However,  it  is  remarkable,  that 
the  cuftom  of  covering  the  private  parts  fhould  fo  generally  ob- 
tain, even  among  barbarous  nations  ;  an  entire  difufe  of  cloath- 
ing  in  both  fexes,  is,  perhaps,  no  where  praftifed,  except  where 
promifcuous  intercourfe  is  alfo  allowed,  and  men  and  \vomen  cou- 
ple Hke  the  brutes. 

The  materials  of  which  thefe  coverings,  which  We  call  *  aprons,* 
and  fome,  ludicroiidy,  breeches,  but  which  ought  to  be,  accord- 
ing to  the  general  ufage  of  the  Hebrew  word,  and  the  tranf- 
lations  of  the  LXX  and  Vulgate,  girdles ; — the  materials  of 
thefe,  and  the  manner  of  manufacture,  have  afforded  plentiful 
diverfion  for  infidels,  but  without  the  leaft  (hadow  of  reafon, 
hnce  we  know  that  luitable  materials  are  produced  in  foreign 
countries,  and  manufactured  with  a  fimplicity  analogous  to  that 
or  thefe  primitive  girdles.     We  allude  to   the  fewed  leaves,  which 

cover  our  tea  as  it  comes  in  chefts  from  the  Eaft  Indies. But 

to  proceed, 

'  And  they  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  walking  in  the 
*  garden  in  the  cool  [Heb. -zy/W]  of  the  day.'  We  have  little 
doubt  but  that  the  voice  they  firft  heard  was  that  of  thunder, 
frequently  called  the  voice  of  God,  [See  Pf.  xxix.]  firft  murmur- 
ing at  a  diftance,  afterward  approaching  nearer,  and  growing 
louder  ;  for  it  is  remarkable,  that  the  fame  word  [walkingj  is  ap- 
phed  [Ex.  xix.  &  19.  in  the  Heb.]  by  a  beautiful  figure,  to  the 
found  of  the  celeftial  trumpet  at  the  delivery  of  the  law.  Hearing 
this,  which  had  never  founded  to  them  fo  awfully  before,  it  was 
extremely  natural  for  them,  in  their  prefent  ftate  of  guilty  con- 
fufion,  to  feek  to  hide  themfelves  among  the  trees ;  a  method 
that  many  of  their  children  praCtife  to  this  day  ;  for  nothing  is 
more  common  (though  dangerous)  than  for  perfons  to  run  among 
ihe  trees  in  a  thunder  ftorm.  This  happened,  as  the  original  ex- 
preffes  it,  in  the  *  wind  of  the  day,'  /.  e.  the  evening  breeze  ;  and 
now  might  that  powerful  element  firft  put  on  its  terrors,  and 
double  the  folemnityof  the  divine  appearance. 

But  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  a  voice  from  the  Shechinah,  [com- 
pare John  xii.  28,  29.]   called  to  him,  'Adam,  where  art  thou  ? 

*  And  he  faid,  I  heard  thy  voice  in  the  garden  ;  and  I  was 
'afraid,  becaufe  I  was  naked,  and  I  hid  myfelf.'  Here  is  are- 
markable  inftance  of  that  confufion  which  commonly  attends,  and 
often  betrays  a  guilty  confcience  :  this  confeflion  of  his  fear  and 
nakednefs  was  a  virtual  acknowledgment  of  his  crime  ;  as  we  fee 
by  the  following  reply  of  God  : 

L  'And 


72  HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

but  in  what  God  faid  to  the  ferpent.  It  was  however  very 
comprehenfive,  as  might  be  eafily  fliown,  would  it  not 
take  up  too  much  time,    (q^) 

Here 

<  And  he  faid,  Who  told  thee  that  thou  \vaft  naked  ?  Haft  thou 

*  eaten  of  the  tree  whereof  I  commanded  thee  that  thou  Ihouldft 

*  not  eat?'  or  as  the  late  Dr.  Kennicott  [Differt.  on  the  Tree 
of  Life,  p.  50.3  tranflates  the  words  with  more  fpirit  and  exaft- 
nefs,  'What!  of  the  tree  wliich  I  commanded  thee  not  to  eat,  of 
THAT  haft  thou  eaten  ?'  This  brings  Adam  to  a  farther,  but  not 
a  free,  confeffiony  and  is  followed  by  a  fentence  on  them  both.  A 
fentence,  however,  accompanied  by  the  pi omifc  of  mercy,  which 
will  form  the  fubjedl  of  the  following  note.      [G.  E.] 

(q^)  The  firjl  PROMISE  luas  very  comprehenfive.  To  compre- 
hend more  fully  the  nature  of  this  promife,  we  muft  review  the 
whole  of  the  fentence  paffed  upon  the  ferpent,  in  which,  as  oui: 
author  obferves,  this  promife  is  included. 

The  punifhment  of  the  ferpent  was  exadlly  fuited  to  the  nature 
of  the  cafe,  and  the  matter  of  facft.  Satan  had  made  a  tool  of  the 
ferpent  ;  this  therefore  was  degraded  to  the  duft,  and  to  be  treat- 
ed in  a  peculiar  manner  as  the  enemy  of  mankind.  Many  conjec- 
tures have  been  indulged  as  to  the  original  nature  of  the  ferpent ; 
fome  of  which  are  ridiculous  as  well  as  groundlefs  :  but  the  text 
itfelf  implies,  that  in  confequence  of  the  divine  curfe  it  underwent 
a  change,  if  not  in  its  form,  at  leaft  in  its  manner  of  life  ;  pofBbly 
it  was  originally  an  inhabitant  of  the  trees,  for  which  its  ftrufturc 
feems  very  convenient,  and  might  have  a  privilege,  which  feems 
to  have  been  denied  moft  other  animals,  [Gen.  i.-30.]  of  living 
upon  the  fruits  :   but  now,  faith  God,  '  Thou  art  curfed  above  all 

*  cattle,  and  above  every  bcaft  of  the  field  ;  upon  thy  belly  fhalt 

*  thou  go,  and  duft  ihalt  thou  eat  all  the  days  of  thy  life.     And  I 

*  will  put  enmity  between   thee  and  the  woman,  and  between  thy 

*  feed  and  her  feed  ;  it  fliallbruife  thy  head,  and  thou   (halt  bruife 

*  his  heel.'  The  whole  of  this  has  been  literally  fulfilled  :  ferpents 
are  confined  to  the  ground — eating  the  duft — and  being  pecu- 
iiarly  the  fubjei^ts  of  human  averfion.  [See  Pliny's  Nat.  Hift. 
vii.  2.] 

If  any  fliould  queftion  (and  fuch  is  the  temerity  of  man)  the 
equity  of  God's  thuspunifiiing  a  creature  in  itfelf  incapable  of  fin- 
ning, we.  may  fuppofc,  with  Mr.  Stackhouse,  [Hift.  of  the  Bible, 
B.  I.  ch.  iii.]  tiiat  "  God  intended  this  debafement  of  it  [the  fer- 
pent] not  fo  much  to  exprefs  his  indignation  againft  it,  as  to  make 
it  a  monument  of  man's  apoftafy,  a  teftimony  of  his  difplcafure 
againft  fin,  and  an  inftruftive  emblem  to  deter  all  future  ages  from 
the  commifiion  of  that  which  brought  fuch  vengeauce  along  with 
it.  In  the  Levitical  law,  [Lev.  xx.  15.]  we  find,  that  if  a  man 
eommitted  any  abomination  with  a  bcaft,  thcbeaft  was  to  be  flain 

a& 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   73 

Here  was  an    intimation  of  a  merciful  defign   hv  '  the 
ieed  of  the    woman,'  which  was  like    the    firil   glimmer- 
ings 

as  well  a*  the  man  ;  and,  by  parity  of  reafon,  the  ferpent  is  here 
punifhed  ;  if  not  to  ...  .  allay  the  triumph  of  the  devil,  by  feeing 
the  inftrument  of  his  fuccefs  fo  fhamefuUy  degraded,  at  lead  to 
remind  the  delinquents  themfelves  of  the  foulnefs  of  their  crime. — 
But  God  might  have  a  farther  defign  in  this  degradation  of  the 
ferpent :  he  forefaw,  that  in  future  ages  Satan  would  have  a  pride 
in  abufing  this  very  creature  to  ...  .  ellablifh  the  vilell  idolatry." 
This  we  Hiall  confider  prcfently. 

But  to  confine  this  paffage  to  a  literal  fenfe  would  be,  as  Dean 
Sherlock  has  fhewn,  [Ufe  and  Intent  of  Prophecy,  Differ.  HL3 
exceedingly  ridiculous  ;  it  would  contain  but  cold  comfort  to  our 
firft  parents  in  their  diftrefs,  and  exhibit  the  paffage  in  a  light  not 
only  unworthy  of  God,  but  of  Mofes,  or,  indeed,  as  Bifhop 
Newton  obferves,  of  "  any  fcnfible  writer."  [Differ.  L  on  the 
Prophefiesi]  We  ffiall  therefore  proceed  to  the  figurative  and 
more  fublime  fenfe  in  which  it  is  above  explained. 

And  obferve,  i.  that  under  the  ferpent's  name  the  curfe  is  here 
levelled  at  the  grand  enemy  of  mankind,  *  That  old  ferpent,  called 
'  the  Devil  and  Satan,  which  deceivcth  the  whole  world.'  [Rev. 
xii.  9.]  And  very  early  was  he  worfliipped  under  that  fimiiitude. 
Dr.  Gill  [on  Gen.  iii.  i.]  fays,  "  Taautus,  or  the  Egyptian 
Thoth,  [or  Hermes,  who,  by  the  bye,  is  fuppofed  to  have  lived 
before  the  flood]  was  the  firft  that  attributed  deity  to  the  nature 
of  the  dragon  and  of  ferpents,  and  after  him  the  Egyptians  and 
Phoenicians  ;  the  Egyptian  god  Cnepb  was  a  ferpent  with  a  hawk's 
head  ;  and  a  ferpent  with  the  Phoenicians  was  a  good  dsemon  .-^..  , 
Herodotus  makes  mention  of  facred  ferpents  about  Thcbi^s  ;  and 
Alianus,  of  facred  dragons  ;  and  Juftin  Martyr  fays,  the  ferpent 
with  the  heathens  was  a  fymbol  of  all  that  were  reckoned  gods  by 
them,  and  they  were  painted  as  fuch  ;  and  wherever  ferpents  were 
painted,  according  to  Perfuis,  it  was  a  plain  indication  that  it  was 
a  facred  place.  Serpents  were  facred  to  many  of  the  heathen  dei- 
ties, who  were  worfhipped  either  in  the  form  of  one,  or  in  a 
real  one  ;  all  which  feem  to  take  their  rife  from  the  ufe  the  devil 
made  of  the  ferpent  in  feducing  our  firft  parents."  And  to  this 
day  the  ferpent  is  a  favourite  divinity  among  many  of  the  Indian 
nations.  In  the  clofe  of  the  lafl:  century,  a  hog  which  had  by 
fome  means  killed  and  fwallowed  one  of  thefe  favourite  reptiles, 
in  the  country  of  the  Widahs,  fo  provoked  them,  tlia-t  the  mar- 
buts  (orpriefts)  procured  a  general  daughter  of  the  fwine,  and  if 
the  King  had  not  loved  pork,  a  hog  had  not  been  left  in  Widah. 
[See  Hift.  of  Jamaica,  VoL  ii.  p.  379.] 

2.  If  the  ferpent  be  underflood  of  the  devil,  hi:  fe-cl  or  offspring 
will  very  properly  be  underftood  of  that  <  generation  of  vipers,* 
[Matt.  iii.  7.]  who  our   Lord  himfelf  declared    to  be  of  tlieir 

L  z  '  father 


74  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

ings  of  light   in    the    eaft   when  the    clay   dawns.       This 
intimation  of  mercy  was  given  before  fentcnce    was  pro- 
nounced 

*  father  the  devil,'  [John  viii.  44,]  and  who  fhewed  their  enmity 
in  all  the  periods  of  his  life,  and  wounded  his  heel  in  nailing  him 
to  the  crofs,  ivho  was,  doubtlefs,  in  a  moil  remarkable  manner, 

3.  The  y^^^  of  the  ivoman.  Here  we  may  adopt  the  Apolllc 
Paul's  expofition  of  another  pafTage,  in  which  the  fame  expreffion 
is  ufed  :  '  He  faith  not  feeds,  as  of  many,  but  as  of  one — which 
is  Chr'ijl.^  [Gal.  iii.  \6r\  And  it  is  obfervable,  that  not  only  the 
generality  of  Chriftian  writers,  but  even  the  ancient  Jews,  both 
the  Jerufalcm  Targum  and  that  of  Jonathan,  befides  many  other 
famous  rabbies,  apply  the  pafTage  to  the  times  and  perfon  of  the 
Mefliah.  [See  Helvicus  in  Protevang.  n.  64,  and,  from  him, 
Poole,  Synop.  crit.  in  loc]     If  it  be  neceffary  to  underftand  the 

*  feed  of  the  woman'  in  a  more  extenfive  fenfe,  to  correfpond 
with  the  former  member  of  the  fentence,  it  may  be  obferved, 
that  the  difciplcs  of  Chrift  owe  the  fame  enmity  to  Satan  as  their 
mafter,  and  would  willingly,  as  they  are  able,  aflill  us  to  dellroy 
his  kingdom. 

4.  The  meaning  of  the  conflict,  here  expreffed  by  hrnifing  the 
ferpent's  head  and  the  Saviour's  heel. 

To  underftand  this  metaphorical  language  it  fhould  be  obferved 
that  the  head  is  the  vulnerable  part  of  ferpents,  and  that  a  blow- 
there  is  fatal  to  them  ;  whereas  a  wound  in  the  heel  is  to  a  man  of 
comparatively  fmall  confequence.  "  Bruifmg  the  ferpent's  head, 
fays  Dr.  Burnett  [Ser.  at  Boyle's  Left.  Vol.  iii.  p.  516.]  implies 
the  defeating  his  contrivances  againft  mankind.  For  (i.)  as  he 
thought  by  feducing  the  pair,  to  have  brought  on  their  death,  and 
fo  have  made  an  end  of  the  whole  fpecies  at  once,  God  promifes 
that  the  woman  fhould  live  to  have  feed.  (2.)  As  he  feduced  the 
woman  under  the  fpecious  pretence  of  friendfhip,  while  he  in- 
tended her  ruin,  a  war  is  declared  againft  the  devil  and  his  party, 
which  fhould  end  in  the  ruin  of  them  and  their  devices.  And  ( 3. ) 
as  the  devil  thought  by  drawing  them  into  iin  and  under  the  wrath 
of  God,  to  bring  them  under  a  certainty  of  death,  and  deprive 
of  the  happinefs  they  were  made  for,  God  declares  that  the  de- 
vil's policy  fhould  be  defeated  by  the  feed  of  the  woman,  in  which 
is  imphed  a  pofitive  promife — that  mankisd,  though  by  the  envy 
of  the  devil  become  fmful  and  therefore  mortal,  fhould  receive 
through  the  feed  of  the  woman,  forg'ivencjs  of  fiii,  the  refurrcBkn 
rif  the  bodjy  and  Vfe  everlajlingy 

"  So  fpake  this  oracle,  then  verified 
When  Jesus,  fon  of  Mary,  fecond  Eve, 
Saw  Satan  fall  like  lightning  dovrh  from  heaven, 
Prince  of  the  air  ;  then  rifing  from  his  grave 
Spoil'd  principalities  and  powers,  triumph'd 
In  open  fhow,  and  with  afcenfion  bright, 

iCaptivit; 


FROM  THE   FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.       75 

nounced  on  either  Adam  or  Eve,  from  tendernefs  to 
them,  to  whom  God  defigned  mercy,  left  they  ftiould  be 
overborne  with  a  fentence  of  condemnation,  without  hav- 
ing any  thing  held  forth  whence  they  could  gather  any 
hope. 

One  of  thofe  great  things  that  were  intended  to  be 
done  by  the  work  of  redemption,  is  more  plainly  inti- 
mated here  than  the  reft,  viz.  God's  fubduing  his  ene- 
mies under  the  feet  of  his  Son.  This  was  threatened 
now,  and  God's  defign  of  it  now  hrft  declared.  This 
was  the  work  Chrift  had  now  undertaken,  which  he  foon 
began,  has  carried  on,  and  will  accomplifh  at  the  end 
of  the  world,  Satan  probably  triumphed  greatly  in  the 
fall  of  man,  as  though  he  had  defeated  God's  defigns  : 
but  in  thefe  words  God  gives  him  a  plain  intimation, 
that  he  should  not  finally  triumph,  but  that  a  complete 
viiSlory  fhould  be  obtained  over  him  by  the  feed  of  the 
woman. 

This 

Captivity  led  captive  through  the  air, 
The  realm  itfcif  of  Satan  long  ufurp'd, 
Whom  he  fhall  tread  at  laft  under  our  feet." 

[Par.  Loft.   Book  x.] 

It  is  not  to  be  fuppofcd  however  that  our  parents  underftood  the 
firft  promife  to  the  extent  that  we  now  do  with  the  help  of  the  gof- 
pel  revelation.  Milton  introduces  them  as  reafoning  upon  it 
in  this  manner  :  Eve,  having  hinted  the  defperate  meafure  of  de- 
ftroying  thcmfelves,  Adam  replies, 

"  Let  us  feek 

Some  fafcr  refolution,  which  methinks 
I  have  in  view,  calling  to  mind  with  heed 
Part  of  our  fentence,  that  thy  feed  fhall  bruife 
The  ferpent's  head  ;  piteous  amends,  unlefs 
Be  meant,  whom  I  conjefture,  our  grand  foe, 
Satan,  who  in  the  ferpent  hath  contriv'd 
Againft  us  this  deceit  :  to  crufh  his  head 
Will  be  revenge  indeed  ;  which  will  be  loft 
By  death  brought  on  ourfclves,  or  childlefs  days 
Refolv'd,  asthou  propofeft  ;  fo  our  foe 
Shall  fcape  his  puniftiment  ordain'd,  and  we 
Inftead  (hall  double  ours  upon  our  heads. 

Remember  with  what  mild 

And  gracious  temper  he  both  heard  and  judg'd 

Without  wrath  or  reviUng."  .  .  .  Par.  Loft.  Book  x.  [G.E.] 


76  HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

This  revelation  of  the  gofpel  was  the  hrft  thing  that 
Chrifl  did  in  his  prophetical  office.  You  may  remem- 
ber, that  it  was  faid  in  the  firft  of  our  three  proportions 
that  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrill:, 
God  was  doing  thofe  things  which  were  preparatory  to 
Chrift's  coining  and  working  out  redemption,  and  fore- 
runners and  earnefts  of  it.  And  one  of  thofe  things 
which  God  did  in  this  time  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's 
coming  into  the  world,  was  to  foretel  and  promife  it,  as 
he  did  from  time  to  time,  from  age  to  age,  till  Chrift  came. 
This  was  the  iirft  promife  given,  the  tirft  predidlion  made 
of  it  upon  the  earth. 

3.  Soon  after  this,  the  cuftom  of  facrificing  was  ap- 
pointed, to  be  a  ftanding  type  of  the  facrifice  of  Chrift 
till  he  fhould  come,  and  ofTer  up  himfelf  to  God.  (r) 
S:acrihcing  was  not  a  cuftom  tirft  eftabliflied  by   the  Levi- 

tical 

(r)  'S)A.CK\Tic%5  origwally  appointed  by  God.  Our  author's  ar- 
guments in  fupport  of  this  propofition,  though  concifc,  arc  cer- 
tainly forcible  ;  but  in  an  article  of  this  importance,  it  may  not 
be  improper  to  ftrengthen  them  with  the  following  obfervations 
from  another  author  of  confiderable  refpcftability  in  the  learned 
world  : 

"  That  animal  facrifices  were  not  inftituted  by  man  feems  ex- 
tremely evident — from  the  acknowledged  un'roerfality  of  the  prac- 
tice— from  the  wonderful  famenejs  of  the  manner,  in  which  the 
whole  world  offered  thefe  facrifices  ;  and  from  that  merit  and  ex- 
piation, which  were  conilantly  fuppofed  in,  and  to  be  cffedled  by 
them. 

"  Now  human  reafon,  even  among  the  moil  ftrcnuous  oppo- 
nents of  the  divine  inftitutions,  is  allowed  to  be  incapable  of  point- 
ing out  the  lead  natural  fitncfs  or  congruity  between  Blood  and 
Atonement ;  between  killing  of  God's  creatures,  and  the  receiv- 
ing a  pardon  for  the  violation  of  God's  laws.  This  confequence 
of  facrifices  when  properly  offered,  was  the  invariable  opinion  of 
the  Heathens ;  but  not  the  whole  of  their  opinion  in  this  matter  : 
for  they  had  alfo  a  traditionary  belief  among  them,  that  thefe  ani- 
mal facrifices  were  not  only  expiations  but  vicarious  commutationg 
nnd  fubftituted  fatisfaflions,  and  they  called  the  animals  fo  offered, 
[^their  ai'Ti-J/t';)^;*  or]  the  ranfoms  of  their  fouls. 

"  But  if  thefe  notions  are  fo  remote  from,  nay  fo  contrary  to,  any 
leffon  that  nature  teaches,  as  they  confeffedly  are  ;  how  came  the 
whole  world  to  pra6life  the  rites  founded  upon  them  ?  It  is  certain 
that  the  wifeff  heathens^Pythagoras,  Plato,  Porphyry, and  others, 
flighted  the  religion  of  fuch  facrifices  ;  and  wondered)  how  an  in- 

ftitution 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   77 

tical   law  ;    for    it   had    been  a  part  of    God's    inftituted 
worfliip  long  before,  even  from    the  beginning  of  God's 


V 


ifiblc 


ftitution  fo  difmal  (as  it  appeared  to  them)  and  fo  big  with  abfur- 
dity,  could  difFufe  itfelf  through  the  world. 

"  An  advocate  for  the  fufiiciency  of  reafon  [Tindall]  fuppofes^ 
the  abfurdity  prevailed  by  degrees ;  and  the  priefts,  who  (harcd 
with  their  gods,  and  referved  the  bell  bit*  for  themfelves,  had  the 
chief  hand  in  this  gainful  fuperftition.  But  it  may  well  be  afl<cd; 
who  were  the  priefts  in  the  days  of  Cain  and  Abel  ?  Or  what  gain 
could  this  fuperftition  be  to  them,  when  the  one  gave  away  his 
fruits,  and  the  other  his  animal  facrifiee,  without  being  at  liberty 
to  tafte  the  leaft  part  of  it?  And  ....  it  is  worth  remarking,  that 
what  this  author  wittily  calls  the  hejl  hits,  and  appropriates  to  the 
priefts,  appear  to  have  been  the  flvin  of  the  burnt  offering  among 
the  Jews,  and  the  flcin  and  feet  among  the  Heathens. 

"  Dr.  Spencer  obfcrves  [De  Leg.  Heb.  Lib.  iii.  ^  2.]  that  fa- 
crificcs  were  looked  upon  as  gifts,  and  that  the  general  opinion 
was — that  gifts  would  have  the  fame  effedl  with  God  as  with  man  ; 
would  appeafe  wrath,  conciliate  favour  with  the  Deity,  and  teftify 
the  gratitude  and  afl'eftion  of  the  facrificer ;  and  that  from  this 
principle  proceeded  expiatory,  precatory,  and  euchariftical  offer- 
ings. This  is  all  that  is  pretended  from  natural  light  to  countenance 
this  praftice.  But  how  well  foever  the  comparifon  may  be  thought 
to  hold  between  facrifices  and  gifts,  yet  the  opinion  that  facrifices 
would  prevail  with  God,  muft  proceed  from  an  obfervation  that 
gifts  had  prevailed  with  men  ;  an  obfervation  this  which  Cain  and 
Abel  had  little  opportunity  of  making.  And,  if  the  coats  of  flcin, 
which  God  direfted  Adam  to  make,  were  the  remains  of  facrifices, 
fure  Adam  could  not  facrifiee  from  this  obfervation,  when  there 
were  no  fubjefts  in  the  world  upon  which  he  could  make  thefc  ob- 
fcrvations."  [Kennmcott's  2d  Dlffert.  on  the  Offerings  of  Cain 
and  Abel.  p.  201,  &c.] 

But  the  grand  objection  to  the  divine  origin  of  facrifices  is 
drawn  from  the  fcriptures  themfelves,  particularly  the  following, 
[Jer.  vii.  22,  23.]  '  Ifpake  not  to  your  fathers,  nor  commanded 
'  them,  at  the  time    that    I    brought  them   out  of  the  land  of 

*  Egypt,  concerning  the  matters  of  burnt  offering  or  facrifiee  ; 

*  but  only  this    very  thing  commanded   1  them,  faying,  Obey  my 

*  vo'icc,  an  J  I  •wtU  be  your  God,  and  ye  /hall  be  my  people.'  The 
ingenious  writer  above  referred  to  accounts  for  this  paffage 
f pages  153  and  209]  by  referring  to  the  tranfac^ion  at  Marah, 
[Exod.  XV.  23 — 26]  at  which  time  God  fpakc  nothing  concern- 
ing facrifices  :  it  certainly  cannot  be  intended  to  contradift  the 
whole  book  of  Leviticus,  which  is  full  of  fach  appointments. 
Aaothei  learned  author,  to  account  for  the  above  and  other  fimi- 
lar  pafTages,  obferves,  "  Tlie  Jews  were  diligent  in  perfoitning 
the  external  fervicos  of  religion ;  in  offering  prayero,  iiicenfe,  fa- 
crifices, 


78  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION; 

vlfible  church  on  earth.  We  read  of  the  patriarchs', 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  offering  facrifice,  and  even 
before  them  Noah  and  Abel :  and  this  was  by  divine  ap- 
pointment ;  for  it  was  part  of  God's  worfhip  in  his 
church,  and  that  which  he  accepted,  when  offered  up  in 
faith  ;  which  proves  it  was  by  his  inftitution,  for  facri- 
iicing  is  no  part  of  natural  worfliip.  The  light  of  na- 
ture doth  not  teach  men  to  offer  beafts  in  facrifice  to 
God  ;  and  feeing  it  was  ftot  enjoined  by  the  law  of  na- 
ture, if  it  was  acceptable  to  God,  it  muft  be  by  fome  pofi- 
tive  command  or  inftitution  :  for  God  has  declared  his 
abhorrence  of  fuch  worihip  as  is  taught  by  the  precept 
of    men     without     his    appointment  ;      [Ifa.    xx-ix.    13.} 

*  Wherefore   the  Lord  faith,   Forafmuch   as  this    people 

*  draw  near  me  with  their  mouth,  and  with  their  lips  do 
'  honour  me,  but  have  removed  their  heart  far  from  me, 
'  and  their  fear  towards  me  is  taught  by  the  precepts 
'  of  men,  therefore  behold  I  will  proceed  to  do  a  mar- 
'  vellous  work,'  &c.  And  fuch  worfliip  as  hath  not  a 
warrant  from  divine   inftitution,  cannot  be  offered  up  in 

faith  ; 

crifices,  oblations  :  but  thefe  prayers  were  not  offered  with  faith  ; 
and  their  oblations  were  made  more  frequently  to  their  idols,  than 
to  the  God  of  their  fathers.  The  Hebrew  idiom  excludes  with  a 
general  negative,  in  a  comparative  fenfe,  one  of-  two  objefts  op- 
pofed  to  one  another:  thus,  '  L  will  have  mercy  and  not  facrifice.' 
£Hof.  vi.  6.]   '  For  I  fpake   not  to  your  fathers,  nor  commanded 

*  them concerning  burnt  offerings  or  facrifices  ;  but  this  thing 

*  I  commanded  them,  faying,  Obey  my  voice."  [Lowth  in  Ifa. 
xliii.  22 — 24.3  The  ingenious  Dr.  Doddridge  remarks,  that 
according  to  the  genius  of  the  Hebrew  language,  one  thing  feems 
to  be  forbidden,  and  another  commanded,  when  the  meaning  only 
is,  that  the  latter  is  greatly  to  be  preferred  to  the  former.  The 
text  before  us  is  a  remarkable  inftance  of  this  ;  as  likewife  Joel  il. 
13. — Matt.  vi.  19,  20. — John  vi.  27. — Luke  xii.  4,  5. — and  Col. 
iii.  2.  And  it  is  evident  that  Gen.  xlv.  8. — Ex.  xvi.  8. — John  v. 
30 — vii.  19,  and  many  other  paffages  are  to  be  expounded  in  the 
fame  comparative  fcnfc.  [Paraph,  on  New  Teft.  §  xlix.]  So  that 
the  whole  may  be  refolved  into  the  apothegm  of  the  wife  man, 
(]Prov.  xxi.  3.]     '  To  do  juftlce  and  Judgment  is  more   accept- 

*  able  to   the   Lord  tlian  facrifice.' Sacrificing  appointed  to  he 

a  Jlanding  type  of  Chr'ijl.  This  will  partly  appear  in  the  two  fol- 
lowing notes  on  the  iirll  facrificcb.  and  more  fully  when  we  come 
to  confider  the  Mofaic  inilitutioiii.  [J.  N.J 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   79 

fairh;  becaufe  faith  has  no  foundation  where  there  is  no 
divine  appointment.  It  cannot  be  offered  up  in  faith  of 
God's  acceptance  ;  for  man  hath  no  warrant  to  hope  for 
God's  acceptance  in  tliat  which  is  not  of  his  appointment, 
and  to  which  he  hath  not  promifcd  his  acceptance  ;  and 
therefore  it  follows,  that  the  cuflom  of  offering  facrifices 
to  God  was  inftitutcd  foon  after  the  fall;  for  the  fcripture 
teaches  us,  that  Abel  offered  '  the  firfilings  of  his  flock, 
and  of  the  fat  thereof,'  [Gen.  iv.  4.]  and  that  he  was 
accepted  of  God  in  this  offering,  [Heb.  xi.  4.]  And  there 
is  nothing  in  the  ftory  that  looks  as  though  the  inflitution 
was  firit  given  when  Abel  offered  up  that  facritice  to 
God;  but  it  appears  as  though  he  only  therein  complied 
witii  a  cullom  already  eflablillied.  (s) 

It 

(3)  Abel  OFFERED  ihefrJlUngsofhisJlocks,  life.']  As  this 
is  the  firfl  inrtance  of  facrifice,  and  even  of  religious  worfhip,  re- 
corded in  fcripture,  and  was  attended  with  confequences  fo  fingu- 
lar  and  important,  we  cannot  pal's  it  over  without  examination  ; 
and  as  a  learned  author  above  cited,  [Dr.  Kcnnicott]  has  be- 
ftowed  uncommon  pains  on  this  fubjeft,  we  flatter  ourl'elves  our 
readers  will  be  gratified  by  being  prefcnted  with  the  fubflance  of 
his  excellent  differtation. 

Dr.  Kennicott  introduces  his  hypothefis  with  obferving  the  dif- 
ferent charafters  and  employments  of  the  two  brothers :  *  Abel 
'  was  a  keeper  of  fheep,  but  Cain  was  a  tiller  of  the  ground  ;'  the 
one,  as  Lord  Eacon  cxpreffes  it,  devoted  to  the  ^^kr,  the  other 
to  the  ccniemplai'i've^  fccnes  of  life. 

•  And  in  procln'"s  of  time  ;'  Heb.  at  the  end  of  days  ;  that  is,  as 
our  author  endeavours  at  large  to  prove,  at  the  end  of  the  week, 
on  the  fabbath  day,  pofTibly  the  firft  after  they  had  become  the 
heads  of  families,  and  entitled  to  offer  facrifices,  as  was  the  patri- 
archal manner,  each  as  the  pried  of  his  own  family — '  It  came  to 
'  pafs  that  Cain  brought  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground,  an  otfering  to 
'  the  Lord.'  It  is  of  importance  to  be  obferved,  that  the  He- 
brew v/ord  rendered  an  offering,  is  mincha,  which  Dr.  K.  ex- 
plains from  divine  authority  to  be  an  offering  oi  Jine  Jlour  mingled 
ivilh  oU  and  ft-anhincenfe,  [Lev.  ii.  i,  &c.J  This  our  tranflators 
commonly  ciJl  a  meat,  bat  might  more  properly  be  called  a  breads 
offering.  Here  our  author  obferven  a  very  fingular  mode  of  ex- 
prellion,  which  he  apprehends  eliptical,  and  fupplying  the  necef- 
fary  v.ords,  tranflates  the  paflage  literally  thus,  '  Cain  brought  of 
*  the  iVuit  of  the  ground  a  mincha  to  Jehovah  ;  and  Abel  brought 
'   [a  mincha'\  he  alfo  [brought]  of  the  firftlines  of  his  flocks,  and 

M  '  .  «  of 


8o  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

It  is  very  probable  that  facrifice  was  inftituted  imme- 
diately after  God  had  revealed  the  covenant  of  grace  ; 
[in  Gen.  iii.  15.]  vs-hich  covenant   and  promife   was   the 

foun- 

'  of  their  fat,'  or  rather,  '  of  the  fatted  of  them.' — Then  it  fol- 
lows— '  And  Jehovah  had  refpeft  to  Abel,  and  to  his  m'mcha  ;  but 

*  to  Cain  and  his  m'mcha  he  had  no  refpeft.'  Now  if  this  tranfla- 
tion  be  juft,  or  the  word  minchaht  rightly  explained,  it  neceffarily 
follows  that  Abel  offered  a  vnncha^  or  meat  offering,  as  well  as 
Cain,  together  with  a  facrifice,  which  Cain  did  not  offer. 

The  matter,  infhort,  feems  to  be  this,  Cain  came,  like  a  felf- 
rlghteous  Pharifee,  with  a  '  God,  I  thank  thee,'  to  the  Author  of 
Nature,  and  the  God  of  Providence  ;  Abel  was  no  lefs  fenfible  of 
thefe  obligations,  and  therefore  brought  his  m'lncha  as  well  as 
Cain ;  but  being  humbled  under  a  conviftion  of  his  own  frailty 
and  unworthinefs,  he  alfo  brings  an  animal  facrifice,  fmites  upon 
his  breaft,  and  cries,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  finner.'  Not  only 
fo,  but  Abel  looked  by  faith  through  the  bleeding  type  to  the 
great  atonement  it  prefigured  :  Cain  rejefted  this  ;  and  being  ig- 
norant of  God's  rightcoufnefs,  went  about  to  eftablifh  his  own. 

This  repiefentation  (which  as  we  faid  is  Dr.  Kennicott's) 
appears  to  us  not  only  ingenious  and  juft,  but  has  the  advantage 
of  being  beautifully  confiltent  with  the  New  Teftament.  Here 
we  fee  how  it  was  that  '  by  faith'  in  the  promifed  feed,  '  Abel  of- 
'  fered  to  God,'  not  only  'a  more  excellent,'  but  as  the  Greek 
imports,  a  fuller,  a  7nore  complete  facrifice  than  Cain  ;  and  it  was 
on  this  account  that  God  had  refpeft,  firft  to  Abel,  and  fecondly, 
to  his  offering.  We  alfo  learn  from  this  review  of  the  fubjeft, 
v.'hat  was  the  error  of  Cain,  which  the  apoftle  Jude  alludes  to, 
namely,  an  enmity  againft  God's  method  of  falvation. 

This  leads  us  to  remark  the  different  condu6l  of  the  two  bro- 
thers fubfequent  to  their  offering.  Mofes  informs  us,  that  '  Cain 
'  was  very  wrath,  and  his  countenance  fell,'  the  ufual  fign  of  a 
bafe  and  malicious  heart.  '  And  the  Lord  faid  unto  Cain,' — con- 
defcended  to  i-eafon  with  him,  probably  by  means  of  the  divine 
Sljckinah — '  Why    art  thou  wrath,  and  why  is   thy   countenance 

*  fallen  ?  If  thou  doft  well,  fhalt  thou  not  be  accepted  l'  Or  ra- 
ther, if  thou  hadil  done  well,  fhouldeft  thou  not  have  been  accept- 
ed in  the  fame  manner  (whatever  that  might  be)  as  Abel  thy  bro- 
ther ?  '  And  If  thou  doft  not  well,'  or  haft  not  done  well — '  fin  lieth 
at  the  door,'  the  fault  is  thine. 

But  Kennicott,  Parkhurst,  and  many  other  critics,  render 
the  laft  phrafe,  '  a.  Jin-offcring  \icth.  (couched)  at  the  door.'  In 
this  view  they  point  out,  not  only  the'reafon  of  his  non-accept- 
ance, but  alfo  the  remedy — namely,  to  take  a  facrifice,  and  offer 
it  in  faith,  as  his  ht  oilier  had  before  done. 

[I.  N.] 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   8i 

foundation  on  which  the  cuftom  of  facrificing  was  built. 
That  promife  was  the  firft  flone  that  was  laid  toward  this 
glorious  building,  the  work  of  redemption,  which  will 
be  tinifhed  at  the  end  of  the  world.  And  the  next  flone 
which  was  laid  upon  that,  was  the  inftitution  of  facrifices, 
to  be  a  type  of  the  great  atonement. 

The  next  thing  that  we  have  an  account  of,  after  God 
had  pronounced  fentence  ou  the  ferpent,  on  the  woman, 
and  on  the  man,  was,  that  God  made  them  coats  of  fi^ins, 
and  cloathed  them  ;  which,  by  the  generality  of  divines, 
are  thought  to  be  the  Ikins  of  beafts  flain  in  facrifice  ; 
for  we  have  no  account  of  any  thing  elfe  that  fliould 
be  the  occafion  of  men  flaying  beafts,  but  onlv  to  offer 
them  in  facrifices,  till  after  the  flood,  Men  were  not 
till  then  allowed  to  eat  the  flefh  of  beafts.  The  food  of 
man  before  the  fall,  was  the  fruit  of  the  trees  of  paradife  ; 
and  when  he  was  turned  out  of  paradife  after  the  fall, 
his  food  was  the  herb  of  the  field  :   [Gen.  iii.  18.]     *  And 

*  thou  fhalt  eat  of  the  herb  of  the  field.'  The  firft  grant 
that  he  had  to  eat  flefh  as  his  common  food  was  after  the 
flood:   [Gen.  xi.   3.]     '  Every  moving   thing    that  liveth 

*  fliall  be  meat  for  you  ;  even  as  the  green   herb  have  I 

*  given  you  all  things.'  So  that  it  is  likely  that  thefe 
Ikins  that  Adam  and  Eve  weje  cloathed  with,  were  the 
Ikins  of  their  facrifices.  God's  cloathing  them  with  thefe 
was  a  lively  figure  of  their  being  cloathed  with  the  righ- 
teoufnefs  of  Chrift.  This  cloarhing  was  not  of  their 
own  obtaining  ;  but  it  was  God  that  gave  it  them.  It  is 
faid,  '  God  made  them  coats  of  fkins,  and  cloathed  them,' 
[Gen.  xiii.  21.]  as  the  righteoufnefs  our  naked  fouls 
are  cloathed  with,  is  not  our  righteoufnefs  but  the  righ- 
teoufnefs which  is  of  God.  It  is  he  alone  that  cloaths  the 
naked  foul,   (t) 

Our 


(t)  God  made  them  coats  of  skins,  mid  cloathed  them.  "God 
himfelf  furnifhes  them  with  apparel.  Animals  are  flain,  not  for 
food,  but  facrifice  ;  and  the  naked  criminals  are  arrayed  with  the 
Hiins  of  thofe  flaughtered  beafts.     The  viftims  figured  the  expja- 

M   2  tiou 


82.         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Our  firfl:  parents,  who  were  naked,  were  cloathed  at 
the  expence  of  life.  Beails  were  flain  to  afford  them 
cloathing.  So  Chriit  died  to  afford  cloathing  to  our  na- 
ked fouls.  Thus  our  firfc  parents  were  covered  with 
Ikins  of  facrifices,  as  the  tabernacle  in  the  wildernefs, 
which  fignitied  the  church,  was,  when  it  was  covered 
with  rams  fkins  died  i<5d,  as  though  they  were  dipped  in 
blood,  to  fignify  that  Chrift's  righteoufnefs  was  vyrought 
out  through  the  pains  of  death,  under  which  he  Ihed  his 
precious  blood. 

We  obferved  before,  that  the  light  which  the  churclj 
enjoyed  from  the  fall  of  man  till  Chrill:  canie,  was  like 
the  light  which  we  enjoy  in  the  night  ;  not  the  light  of 
the  fun  directly,  but  as  refle(9:ing  from  the  moon  and 
planets ;  which  light  did  foreftiow  Chrift,  the  Sun  of 
1  ighteoufnefs  which  was  afterwards  to  arife.  This  light 
they  had  chiefly  two  ways:  one  was  by  predi6Vions  of 
Chrift,  wherein  his  coming  was  foretold  and  promiled  ; 
the  other  by  types  and  fhadows,  in  which  his  coming 
and  redemption  were  prefigured.  The  hrft  thing  tliat  was 
done  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift  in  the  former  of  thefe 
ways,  was  in  the  promife  above  conlidered  ;  and  the 
firft  thing  of  the  latter  kind,  viz.  of  types,  was  the  in- 
ftitutlon  of  facrifices.  As  that  promife  [Gen.  iii.  i^.] 
was  the  firft  dawn  of  gofpel  light  after  the'  fall  in  pro- 
phecy ;  fo  this  inftitution  was  the  firft  hint  of  it  in 
types.  The  giving  of  that  promife  was  the  firft  thino- 
done  after  the  fall  in  this  work,  in  Chrift's  prophetical 
office  ;  the  inftitution  of  facrifices  was  the  firft  thing  that 
we  read  of  after  the  fall,  by  which  Chrift  exhibited  him- 
felf  in  his  prieftly  office. 

The 


tion  of  Clirift's  death  ;  the  cloathing  typified  the  imputation  of 
his  righteoufnefs,  \\'\\\ch.  is  upon  all  them  ivho  lelieve."  [Rom.  iii. 
32.] [Hervey's  Theronand  Afpafio,  vol.  ii.  lett.  4.] 

"  Nor  he  their  outward  only,  with  the  flcins 
Of  beafts,  but  inward  nakednefs  (much  more 
Opprobrious !  )  with  his  robe  of  righteoufnefs 
Arraying,  cover'dfrom  his  Father's  fight." 

[Milton's  Par.  Loll.  Bookx.] 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   83 

The  inftitution  of  facrifices  was  a  great  thing  done 
towards  preparing  the  way  for  Chriil's  coming,  and  work- 
ing out  redemption.  For  the  facrifices  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament were  the  principal  of  all  the  Old  Teflament  types 
of  Chrift  and  his  redemption ;  and  it  tended  to  eftablifli 
in  the  minds  of  God's  vifible  church  the  neceflity 
of  a  propitiatory  facrifice,  in  order  to  the  Deity's  being 
fatisfied  for  fin ;  and  fo  prepared  the  way  for  the  recepw 
tion  of  the  glorious  gofpel  that  reveals  the  great  facrifice, 
not  only  in  the  vifible  church,  but,  through  the  world 
of  mankind.  For  from  this  inftitution  of  facrifices  after 
the  fall,  all  nations  derived  the  fame  cuftom.  No  nation, 
however  barbarous,  has  been  found  without  it  any  where 
This  is  a  great  evidence  of  the  tmth  of  revealed  reli- 
gion ;  for  no  nation,  but  only  the  Jews,  could  tell  how 
they  came  by  this  cuftom,  or  to  what  purpofe  it  was 
to  offer  facrifices  to  their  deities.  The  light  of  nature 
did  not  teach  them  any  fuch  thing.  That  did  not  teach 
them  that  the  gods  were  hungry,  and  fed  upon  the  flelh 
which  they  burnt  in  facrifice;  and  yet  they  all  had 
this  cuftom  ;  of  which  no  other  account  can  be  given, 
but  that  they  derived  it  from  Noah,  who  had  it  from 
his  anceftors,  on  whom  God  had  enjoined  it  as  a  type 
of  the  great  facrifice  of  Chrift.  However,  by  this  means 
all  nations  of  the  world  had  their  minds  poffefted  with 
this  notion,  that  an  atonement  or  facrifice  for  fin  was 
neceflary ;  and  a  way  was  made  for  their  more  readily  re- 
ceiving that  great  dodlrine  of  the  gofpei,  wliich  teaches  us 
the  atonement  and  facrifice  of  Chrift. 

4.  God  foon  after  the  fall  a6lually  began  to  fave  the 
fouls  of  men  through  Chrift's  redemption.  In  this,  Chrift 
who  had  lately  taken  upon  him  the  work  of  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  man,  did  firft  begin  to  exercife  his  kingly 
office.  In  the  firft  predidion  the  light  of  Chrift's  rc- 
|demption  firft  began  to  dawn  in  the  prophecies  of  it ;  in 
the  inftitution  of  facrifices  it  firft  began  to  dawn  in  the 
types  of  it ;  in  his  beginning  actually  to  /avc  men,  it  firft 
began  to  dawn  in  ihcfnat  of  it. 

Ir 


84  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  Adam  and  Eve  were  the 
firfl:  fruits  of  Chrift's  redemption;  (u)  it  is  probable  by 
God's  manner  of  treating  them ;    by  his  comforting  them 

as 

(u)  Adam  and  Eve  the  first  fruits  of  Chr'iJVs  redemption, 
Milton  has  fo  beautifidly  and  evangelically  illuftrated  this  fup- 
pofition,  that  we  cannot  refift  the  temptation  of  again  introducing 
our  favourite  commentator. 

..."  They  forthwith  to  the  place 
Repairing  where  he  judg'd  them,  proftrate  fell 
Before  him  reverent,  and  both  confefs'd 
Humbly  their  faults,  and  pardon  begg'd,  with  tears- 
Watering  the  ground,  and  with  their  fighs  the  air 
Frequenting,  fent  from  hearts  contrite,  and  fign 
Of  forrow  unfeign'd,  and  humiliation  meek. 


"  Thus  they  in  lowlieft  plight  repentant  Rood 
Praying  ;  for  from  the  mercy-feat  above 
Prevenient  grace  defcending  had  remov'd 
The  ftony  from  their  hearts,  and  made  new  flefh 
Regenerate  grow  inftead,  that  fighs  nov\r  breath'd 
Unutterable,  which  the  Spirit  of  prayer 
Infpir'd,  and  wing'd  for  heav'n  with  fpeedier  flight 
Than  loudeft  oratory  :.......... 

To  heav'n  their  pray'rs 

Flew  up,  nor  mifs'd  the  way,    by  envious  winds 
Blown  vagabond  or  fruftrate  ;  in  they  pafs'd 
Dimenfionlefs  thro'  heay'nly  doors  ;  then  clad 
With  incenfe,  where  the  golden  altar  fum'd, 
By  their  great  IntercefTor,  came  in  fight 
Before  the  Father's  throne  :  them  the  glad  Son 
Prefenting,  thus  to  intei  cede  began  : 

"  See,  Father,  what  firft  fruits  on  earth  are  fprung 
From  thy  implanted  grace  in  man,  thcfe  fighs 
Andpray'rs,   which  in  tliis  golden  cenfor,   mix'd 
"With  incenfe,   I  thy  prieft  before  thee  bring  ; 
Fruits  of  more  pleafing  favour  from  thy  feed 
Sown  with  contrition  in  his  heart,  than  thofe 
Which  his  own  hand  manuring  all  the  trees 
Of  Paradife  could  have  produc'd,  ere  fliU'n 
From  innocence.     Now  therefore  bend  thine  ear 
To  fupplication  ;  hear  his  fighs -though  mute, 
Unilcilful  with  what  words  to  pri^y,  let  me 
Interpret  for  him,  me  his  advocate 
And  propitiation  ;  all  his  works  on  me, 
Good  or  not  good,  ingraft  ;  my  merit  thofe 
Shall  perfcdlj  and  fur  thcfe  my  death  pay." 

[Par.  Loll.   Book  x.  xi,] 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   8^ 

as  he  did,  alter  tlieir  awakenings  and  tenors.  They 
were  awakened,  and  afhamed  with  a  fenie  of  their  cuilt, 
after  their  fall,  when  their  eyes  were  opened,  and  they 
law  that  they  were  naked  and  fewed  fig-leaves  to  cover 
their  nakednefs  ;  like  the  finner  who  under  his  firft  con- 
vi6lion  endeavours  to  hide  the  nakednefs  of  his  foul  by  a 
righteoufnefs  of  his  own.  Then  they  were  farther  awa- 
kened and  terrified  by  hearing  the  voice  of  God,  as  he 
was  coming  to  judge  them.  Their  coverings  of  fig-leaves 
would  not  anfwer  their  purpofe  ;  for  notwithfianding 
thefe,  they  ran  to  hide  themfelves  among  the  trees  of  the 
garden,  not  daring  to  truft  to  their  fig-leaves  to  hide 
their  nakednefs  from  God.  Then  they  were  farther 
awakened  by  God's  calling  them  to  a  flritft  account. 
But  while  their  terrors  were  raifed  to  fuch  a  height, 
and  they  flood,  as  we  may  fuppofe,  trembling  and  afto- 
nifhed  before  their  judge,  without  any  thing  to  catch 
hold  of,  whence  they  could  gather  hope  ;  then  God  con- 
defcended  to  hold  forth  fome  encouragement  to  them,  to 
keep  them  from  the  drejdful  effe6ts  of  defpair  under  their 
awakenings,  by  giving  a  hint  of  a  defign  of  mercy  by  a 
Saviour,  even  before  he  pronounced  fentence  againfl: 
them.  And  when,  after  this,  he  proceeded  to  pronounce 
fentence,  whereby  we  may  fuppofe  their  terrors  were  far- 
ther railed,  God  was  pleaied  to  encourage  them,  and  to 
let  them  fee  that  he  had  not  wholly  cafi;  them  off,  by  tak- 
ing a  fatherly  care  of  them,  making  them  coats  of  £ls.ins 
and  cloathing  them.  This  alfo  manifefted  an  acceptance 
of  thofe  facrifices  offered  to  God,  (of  which  thefe  were 
the  Ikins)  which  were  types  of  what  God  had  promifed. 
when  he  faid,  '  the  feed  of  tlie  woman  ihall  bruife  the 
'  ferpenf's  head  ;'  which  promifc,  there  is  reafon  to 
think,  they  believed  and  embraced.  Eve  feems  plain- 
ly to  exprefs  her  hopes  in,  and  dependence  on,  that 
promife,  in  what  (he  fays  at  the  birth  of  Cain,  [Gen. 
iv.  I.]  'I  have  gotten  a  man  from  the  Lord  ;'  /.  e.  as 
God  has  promifed,  that  my  feed  ifiould  bruife  the  fer- 
pent's  head  ;  fo  now  has  God  given  me  this  pledge  and 
token  of  it;  that   I  have  a  feed  born.     She   plainly  owns, 

that 


$6'  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

that  this  her  child  was  from  God,  and  hoped  that  hci' 
promiled  feed  was  to  be  this  her  eldeft  fon  ;  though  fhe 
was  miftaken,  as  Abraham  was  with  refpeit  to  Ifhmael, 
as  Jacob  with  refpecl  to  Efau,  and  as  Samuel  with  refpedl 
to  the  tirft-born  of  Je-Te.  (w)  Alfo  what  (he  faid  at 
the  birth   of    Seth,    exprefTes  her  hope    and  dependence 

on 

(w)  I  ha-vc gotlen  a  vian  TKOU  the  Lord,']  The  uncertain  im- 
port of  the  Hebrew  particle  eth,  here  tranflated  from,  has  occa- 
lioned  this  text  to  receive  a  great  variety  of  interpretationd,  mod 
of  which  may  be  fcen  in  Mr.  Poole's  elaborate  v,'ork.  [Syn.  Crit. 
in  loc]  But  when  we  fee  twenty  or  thirty  meanings,  many  of 
them  inconfiftent  with  each  other,  applied  to  one  particle,  as  the 
lexicographers  have  done  to  this,  [See  TAYLOii's  Heb.  Concord.] 
we  cannot  help  fufpecting  tliat  they  are  unncceflariJy  and  impro- 
perly mukiphed. 

The  root  whence  this  particle  is  evidently  derived,  fignifies  to 
approach^  ccme  unto;  and  if  the  fame  idea  fhould  be  preferved  in 
all  the  fenfes  of  the  particle,  as  we  apprehend  in  fonie  degree  it 
fhould,  the  common  tranflation  mult  be  given  up.  And  aftef 
examining  a  great  number  of  paffages'ii;  tbe  original  fcriptures, 
particularly  thoie  which  were  moit  perLirier.t  to  our  purpofe,  we 
are  fatisfied,  that,  if  it  is  not  to  be  ta]:en  as  merely  an  article  of 
the  accufative  cafe  (which  we  much  doubt  whether  the  lanj^uaire 
will  admit)  that  it  may  be  refolved  into  fame  or  other  of  the  fol- 
lowing fenfes  : 

1 .  According  to  the  radical  idea,  to,  unto,  belonging  to,  towards^ 
near,  'with,  upon,  and  the  like. 

Or,  2.  It  may  be  rendered  as  an  emphatic  article,  the,  the  very 
fubllance  c  ■■"  a  things  (according  to  the  Latin  proverb,  Proximus 
film  egomet  mlhi  ;j  in  which  cafe  it  may  often  be  tranflated  eiKu,  or 
iis  a  pronoun,  th-f-^  this,   &c. 

If  theie  remjviis  are  juit,  the  words  may  then  be  rendered  ; 

1.  'A  (or  The)  man,  ev^r,  Jehovah.' — So  Fagius,  Helvlcus, 
Forller,  Schlndler,  Luther,  Pellican,  Cocceius,  Schmit,  Marir.us, 
Avenarius,  Parkhurlh,  Gill,  &c. — fuppoiing  Eve  to  have  taken 
her  fnft-born  to  be  the  MefTiah,  God  incarnate  :  but  as  it  may  ad- 
mit of  dilpute,  whether  Eve  at  this  very  early  period  was  fo  clear- 
ly acquainted  vnO.x  this  divine  myllery,  efpeci;illy  as  fiie  appears 
not  to  have  fufpedledany  thing  of  the  immaculate  conception,  it 
might  be  better  to  render  the  words,  as  they  will  certainly  bear, 
with  rather  more  latitude, 

2.  '  The  man  of,  i.  e.  belonging  to,  Jehovah.'  The  Targum  of 
Jonathan  favours  thi^  reading,  'thearj^el  of  the  Lord  ;'  and  fo 
Chriil  was  afterwards  called,  as  well  as — the  fervant  of  tiie  Lord — 
fhe  man  of  his  right  hand,  and  the  word  that  was  ivilb  God. 

•«  Some 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   87 

on  the  promHe  of  God;  [fee  ver.  25.]  '  For  God  liath 
'  appointed  me  another  feed  inftead  of  Abel,  whom  Cain 
<  flew.' 

Thus  it  is  exceedingly  probable,  if  not  demonftra- 
ble,  that,  as  Chrift  took  on  him  the  work  of  mediator 
when  man  fell,  fo  he  now  adtually  began  his  work  of 
redemption,  encountered  his  great  enemy  the  devil,  whom 
he  had  Undertaken  to  conquer,  and  refcued  thofe  two 
firft  captives  out  of  his  hands ;  therein  baffling  hira 
foon  after  his  triumph  in  the  victory  he  had  obtained 
over  our  firft  parents.  And  though  he  might  be  fure  of 
them  and  all  their  pofterity,  Chriil  the  Redeemer  foon 
convinced  him  of  his  miftake,  and  that  he  was  able  to 
fubdue  him,  and  deliver  fallen  man.  He  let  him  fee  it, 
in  delivering  thofe  lirfl:  captives  of  his;  and  fo  ""nve  him 
an  inftance  of  his  fulfilment  of  that  threatening,  '  The 
'  feed  of  the  woman  fhall  bruife  the  ferpent's  head  ;'  and 
a  prefage  of  the  fulfilment  of  one  great  tiling  he  had 
undertaken,  viz.  his  fubduing  all  his  enemies  under  his 
feet. 

After  this  we  have  another  inflance  of  redemption  in 
one  of  their  children,  viz.  '  in  righteous  Abel,'  as  the 
fcripture  calls  him,  [Mark  xiii.  35.]  whofe  foul  perhaps 
was  the  firfi  that  went  to  heaven  through  Chrift's  redemp- 
tion.    In  him  we  have  ^at  Icaft  the  firll  inftance  recorded 

N  in 


"  Some  interpreters,  and  not  without  reafon,   fuppofe  that  fhe 

confidered  the  fon  given  her,  as  the  promiftd  feed And 

how  foothing  to  the  maternal  heart  muft  have  been  the  }iope  of 
deliverance  and  relief  forherfelf,  and  triumph  over  her  bitter  ene- 
mies, by  means  of  the  fon  of  her  own  bowels  !  How  fondly  does 
file  dream  of  repairing  the  ruin  which  her  frailty  had  brought  up- 
on her  hufband  and  family,  by  this  firft-born  of  many  brethren  ! 
The  name  (he  gives  him  fignities  ....  ^  pojefton.  She  flatters 
herfelf  flie  has  now  got  fomcthing  (he  can  call  her  own  :  and  even 

the  lofs  of  Paradife  feems  compenfatcd  by  a  dearer  inheritance 

But,  O  blind  to  futurity!  with  how  many  forrows  was  \l\\i p)Jft[fiou , 
fo  exultingly  triumphed  in,  about  to  pierce  the  fond  maternal 
l)reall  !  How  imlike  are  the  forebodings  and  wiHies  af  parental 
tendernefs  and  partiality,  to  the  deltinations  of  Providence,  and 
the  difcoveries  which  time  brings  to  light  !"-: [Hunter's  Sa- 
iled Biog,  Lect.  iv.] 


88  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

in  I'cilpture  of  the  de-£th  of  a  redeemed  perfon.  (x)  If  he 
■was  the  fiiTc,  then,  as  the  redemption  of  Chrifl:  began  to 
dav.  n  before  in  the  fouls  of  men  in  their  ccnverfion  and 
luftitication,  in  him  it  tirfl  began  to  dawn  in  glorification, 
and  at  his  death  tlie  angels  beo;an  firft  to  a6l  as  minifter- 
5ng  (pirits  to  Chrill:,  in  conducting  the  fouls  of  the  re- 
deemed to  ijjory.  (y)    And  in  him  others  in  heaven  had 

the 

f  x)  In  Alel  ive  have  ihefrjl  injlance  of  death.'}  Many  and  ab- 
fuvd  are  the  traditions  and  conjectures  refpecting  this  event  ;  but 
the  fcripture  account  of  it  is  fimply  this,  '  And  Cain  talked  with. 
'  Abel  his  brother,'  or,  as  the  Samaritan,  LXX,  and  Vulgate 
read  it,  '  Cain /aid  unto  Abel  his  brother,  Let  us  go  into  thejield — 
*■  and  it  came  io  pafs  when  they  were  in  the  field  that  Cain  rofe  up 
'  againft  Abel  his  bn)thcr,  and  flew  him.' 

*'  Cain,  it  would  appear  ....  decoyed  his  brother  into  folitude 
under  the  maJk  of  familiarity  and  friendfhip,   '  he  talked  with  him  ;' 

*  they  were  in  the  field.'  What  a  horrid  aggravation  of  his  guilt! 
A  deed  of  violence  !  Murder  J  A  good  man's,  a  brother's  murder  ! 
Deliberately  refolved  on,  craftily  conduced,  remorfelefsly  execu- 
ted   Now  was  the  death  for  the  firft  time  feen  ;  and  feen 

in  its,gha{llie[l  form.  Death  before  the  time,  the  death  of  piety 
and  goodnefs  !  Death  inflifted  by  violence,  and  preceded  by  pain ! 
Death  imbittercd  to  the  fufFerer  by  refle6ting  on  the  hand  from 
which  it  came  ;  the  hand  of  a  brother,  the  hand  which  fhould 
have  fupported  and  protefted  him.  At  length  the  feeble  eyei 
clofe  in  peace  ;  and  the  pain  of  bleeding  wounds,  and  the  pangs 
of  fraternal  cruelty,  are  felt  no  more.     '  The  duft  returns  to  the 

*  earth  as  it  was,  and  the  fpirit  returns  unto  God  who  gave  it.' 
The  fpirit  returns  to  God  to  fee  his  unclouded  face,  formerly  feeis 
through  the  medium  of  natural  objefts  and  religious  fervices — 
Happy  Abel!   thus  early  delivered  from  the  fins  and  forrowsof  a 

vain  world  ! The  materials  of  which  life  is  compofed, 

arc  not  fo  much,  days,  and  months,  and  years,  as  works  of  piety, 
and  mercy,  and  juftice,  or  their  oppofites  ;  he  dies  in  full  matu- 
rity,  who  has  lived  to  God at   whatever  period,  and  in 

whatever  manner  he  is  cut  off:  that  life  isfhort,  though  extended 
to  a  thoufand  years,  which  is  disfigured  with  vice,  devotfd  to  the 
purfuit  of  time  merely,  and  at  the  clofe  of  which  the  unhappy 
man  is  fuun^  un.ecunciled  to  God."  [Dr.  H.  Hunter's  Sacred 
Biof^taj'hy,  Led.  vi.] 

(y)  At  /Ihd's  death  the  angels  Jirjl  began  to  acl  as  ir'intj1er:ng 
Ipirits,']  "  The  an'^'el  of  death  called  forth  the  foul  of  Abel 
from  the  cnfanguiued  duft.  It  advant^d  with  a  fmile  of  joy  .... 
I  falute  thee,  faid  the  celeilial  fpirit,  while  benignity  and  joy  beam- 
ed in  his  eyes:   I  faluts  thee,  O  happy  fo  id  !   new  difengaged  from 

thy 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   89 

ihe  firfl:  opportunity  o^  feeing  fo  wonderful  a  thing,  as  a 
human  foul,  that  had  been  funk  into  an  abyfs  of  fin  and 
mifery,  brought  to  heaven  and  glory ;  which  was  a 
much  greater  thing,  than  if  they  had  fecn  man  return  to 
the  earthlv  Paradifc.  Thus  they  by  this  faw  the  glorious 
effect  of  ChrilVs  redemption,  in  the  great  honour  and 
happinefs  that  was  procured  for  finful,  miferable  creatures 
by  it. 

5.  The  next  remarkable  thing  that  God  did  in  me 
farther  carrying  on  this  great  affair  of  redemption,  that 
I  fhali  take  notice  of,  was  the  firft  out-pouring  of  the 
Spirit  through  Chrifl:,  which  was  in  the  days  of  Enos. 
We  read,  [Gen.  iv.  26.]  '  Then  began  men  to  call  upon 
'  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  The  meaning  of  thefe  words 
has   been   confidcrably  controverted   among  divines,     (z) 

We 

thy  encumbering  duft It  is  to  me  an  incrcafe  of  felicity, 

that  I  am  chofen  by  the  Mod  High  to  introduce  thee  into  the 
realms  of  light  and  blifs,  where  myriads  of  angels  wait  to  hail 
thee.  Conceive,  if  thou  canil,  beloved  foul!  Conceive  what  it  is 
to  bell  old  God  face  to  face,  to  have  communion  with  him  far 
ever.'      [Death  of  Abel,   Book  iv.] 

(z)  Then  BEGAN  men  to  call  upon  the  name  of  the  LorrJ.'] 
"  Not  but  that  Adam  and  Abel  and  all  good  men  had  called 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  prayed  to  him,  or  worfiiippcd 
him  before  this  time  pcrjonally  and  in  their  families  ;  but  now  the 
families  of  good  men  being  lars^er,  and  more  nunierou.^,  they 
joined  tocjcther  inyir/^/and  public  worfliip  :  or  fincc  it  may  be 
thought  thete  were  public  afTemblies  for  religious  worfliip  before 
this  time,  it  may  be  they  had  been  neglected,  and  now  were  re- 
vived with  more  zeal  and  vigour  ;  feeing  tlie  Cainites  incorporat- 
ing themltlves,  and  joining  families  together  and  building  cities, 
and  carrying  on  their  civil  and  religious  affairs  among  themfelves, 
they  alfo  formed  themfelves  into  dillinft  bodies  ;  and  not  only  fe- 
parated  from  them,  but  called  themfelves  by  a  different  name  ; 
for  fo    the  words  may  be  rendered,    *  Then  began  men  to  call 

*  themfelves,'  or,  *  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;'  the 
Sons  of  God  as  dliUnft  from  the  fons  of  men  ;  which  dilllnclion 
may  be  obferved  in  Ch.  vi.  2.  and  has  been  retained  more  or  lefs 
ever  fince.     Some  chufe  to  tranflate  tlie  words,   '  then  began  men 

•  to  call  IN  the  nair.e  of  the  Lord  ;'  that  is,  to  call  upon  God  in 
the  name  of  the  Mcfliah,  the  ?vIediator  between  God  and  Man  ; 
having  now  fince  the  birtli  of  Sedi,  and  efpecially  of  Enos,  clearer 
potions  of  the  prcmifed  feed  and  of  the  life  of  him  and  his  name, 

N  2  -  in 


90  HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

We  cannot  fupp-^fe  the  meaning  is,  that  then  men  lirfl: 
performed  the  duty  of  prayer.  Prayer  is  a  duty  of  natu- 
ral religion,  and  a  duty  to  which  a  fpirit  of  piety  does 
mod:  naturally  lead  men.  Prayer  is,  as  it  were,  the  very 
breath  of  a  pious  fpirit,  and  we  cannot  fuppofe  therefore, 
that  holy  men  had  lived  for  above  two  hundred  years, 
without  prayer.  Therefore  fome  divines  think,  that  the 
meaning  is,  that  then  men  lirft  began  to  perform  public 
worJhip,  or  to  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  in  public 
affemblies.  Whether  it  be  fo  to  be  underftood  or  not, 
yet  certainly  there  was  now  fomething  new  in  tlie  vifible 
church  of  God  with  refpe6l  to  the  duty  of  prayer,  or 
calling  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  which  was  the  confe- 
quence  of  the  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

If  it  was  now  firft  that  men  were  ftined  up  to  m.eet 
together  in  affemblies,  to  alnft  one  another  in  feeking  God 
fo  as  they  had  never  done  before,    it   argues    fomething 

extra- 

in  their  addreffes  to  God  ;  [See  John  xiv.  13,  14. — xvi.  23,  24.] 
The  Jews  [many  of  them]  give  a  very  different  fenfe  of  thefe 
words  ;  the  Targum  of  Oakelos  is,  *'  Then  in  his  days  the  chil- 
dren of  men  ceafed  from  praying  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;"  and 
the  Targiim  of  Jonathan  is,  "  This  was  the  age,  in  the  days  of 
which  they  began  to  err,  and  they  made  themfelves  idols,  and  fur- 
named  their  idols  by  the  name  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  ;"  v/ith 
which  agrees  the  note  of  Jarchi,  "  Then  they  began  to  call  the 
names  of  men,  and  the  names  of  herbs,  by  the  name  of  the  blef- 
fe;!  God,  to  make  idols  of  them  ;"  and  fome  of  them  fay,  parti- 
cularly Maimonides,  that  Enos  himftlf  erred  and  fell  into  idolatry, 
and  was  the  iirll  inventor  of  images,  by  the  mediation  of  which 
men  praved  unto  God :  but  all  this  feems  to  be  without  founda- 
tion and  injurious  to  the  charafter  of  this  antidiluvian  patriarch  ; 
nor  d.^es  it  appear  that  idolatry  obtciincd  in  the  pofterity  of  Seth, 
or  among  the  people  ol:  God  fo  early  ;  nor  is  fuch  an  account 
agreeable  to  the  hiftory  which  Mofes  is  giving  of  the  family  of 
Seth,  in  oppofitipn  to  that  of  Cain  ;  wherefore  oiie  or  other  of 
the  former  fenfcs  is  heft."      [Gill  in  loc.j 

If  our  author's  expofition  is  preferred,  which  nearly  corref- 
ponds  with  what  is  obferved  in  the  former  part  of  this  note,  it 
may  receive   fome  illuilration  from  comparing  it  with  Mai.  iii.  16. 

*  Then  they  that  feared  the  Lord  fpake  often  one  to  another,  the 

*  Lord  hearkened  and  heard,  and  a  bnok  of  remembrance  was 
'  written  before  him  for  them  that  feared  the  Lord,  and  that 
^  thought  upon  his  na-m'.".'  [I.  N.l 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   91 

efxtraordinary  as  the  caufe;  an<l  could  be  from  nothing 
but  the  uncommon  influences  of  God's  Spirit.  We  may 
obferve,  that  a  remarkable  out-pouring  of  God's  Spirit 
always  produces  a  great  increafe  of  prayer.  When  the 
Spirit  of  God  begins  a  work  on  men's  hearts,  it  immedi- 
ately fets  them  to  calling  on  tlie  name  of  the  Lord.  As 
it  was  with  Paul  after  the  Spirit  of  God  had  laid  hold  of 
him,  then  it  is  faid,  [A6ts  ix.  11.]  '  Behold  he  praveth!* 
fo  it  was  in  all  the  inftances  which  we  have  any  account 
of  in  fcripture ;  and  fo  it  will  be  at  the  great  effufion  of 
the  Spirit  in  the  latter  days.  It  is  foretold,  that  it  will 
be  poured  out  as  a  fpirit  of  grace  and  fupplication,  [Zech. 
xii.   10.     See  alfo   Zeph.  iii.  9.]    '  For  then  will  I  turn 

*  to  the  people  a  pure  language,  that  they  may  all  call 
'  upon  the  name  of  the    Lord,    to  ferve  him  with  one 

*  confent.' 

And  when  it  is  faid,  '  Then  began  men  to  call  upon 
'  the  name  of  the  Lord,'  no  more  can  be  intended  by  it, 
than  that  this  v/as  the  hrft  lemarkable  feafon  of  this  na- 
ture that  ever  was.  It  was  the  beginning,  or  the  hrll, 
of  fuch  a  kind  of  work  of  God,  fuch  an  out-pouring  of 
the  Spirit  of  God.  After  this  manner  fuch  an  expreifion 
is  commonly  ufed  in  fcripture:    [i   Sam.  xiv.  35.]   '  And 

*  Saul  built  an  altar  unto  the  Lord;  the  fame  was  the 
'  firji  altar  that  he  built  unto  the  Lord.'  In  the  Hebrew 
it  is,  as  you  may  fee  in  the  margin,  '  that  altar  he  began 
'  to  build  unto  the  Lord.'   [Heb.  ii.  3.]     '  How  fliall  we 

*  efcape  if  we  negiedt  fo  great  falvation,   which  tirll  began 

*  to  be  fpoken  by  the  Lord?' 

It  may  here  be  obferved,  that  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
this  day,  the  work  of  redemption  in  its  cffe6t  has  been 
carried  on  by  the  fame  means.  Though  there  be  a  more 
conflant  influence  of  God's  Spirit  always  in  fome  degree 
attending  his  ordinances;  yet  the  way  in  which  tlie 
grcateil  things  have  been  done  towards  carrying  on  this 
work,  always  has  been  by  remarkable  efl^ulions  of  the 
Spirit  at  Ipecial  feafons  of  mercy,  as  will  fully  appeaY 
hereafter.  And  this,  in  the  days  of  Enos,  was  the  lirll 
Remarkable  efFudon  of  the  Spirit  of  God  recorded.     There 

■      had 


92  HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

had  been  a  faving  work  of  God  on  the  hearts  of  fome 
before ;  but  now  God  was  pleafed  to  grant  a  larger  por- 
tion of  his  Spirit;  fo  that  here  we  fee  that  great  building 
which  God  laid  the  foundation  of  immediately  after  the 
fall,  carried  on  farther,  and  built  higher,  than  ever  it  had 
been  before. 

6.  The  next  thing  I  fhall  take  notice  of,  is  the  emi- 
nently holy  life  of  Enoch,  who  we  have  reafon  to  think 
was  a  faint  of  greater  eminency  than  any  that  had  been 
before  him ;  fo  that  in  this  refpecl  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion was  carried  on  to  a  ftill  greater  height.  With  re- 
fpeiSt  to  its  eff'efl:  in  the  vifible  church  in  general,  we 
obferved  above  that  it  was  carried  higher  in  the  days  of 
Enos  than  ever  before.  Probably  Enoch  was  one  of 
the  faints  of  that  harveii  ;  for  he  lived  all  the  days  that 
he  did  live  on  earth,  in  the  days  of  Enos.  And  with 
refpe6t  to  the  degree  to  which  this  work  was  carried  in 
the  loul  of  a  particular  per/on,  it  was  raifed  to  a  greater 
height  in  Enoch  than  ever  before.  His  foul,  as  it  was 
built  on  Chrifl,  was  built  up  in  holinefs  to  a  greater 
height  than  any  of  his  predecelTors.  He  was  a  wonder- 
ful inflance  of  Chrift's  redemption,  and  ot  the  efficacy 
of  his  grace,   (a)  ^_  j^^ 

(a)  Enoch  WALKED  w.'/>6  Gor/.]  Infinite  pains  ha^e  been  taken 
to  decorate  the  charadters  of  ancient  philofophers  and  heroes,  and 
too  frequently  their  own  vanity,  the  adulation  of  their  dependents, 
or  the  partiality  of  their  heirs,  has  purehafed  eulogiums,  where 
eternal  infamy  was  merited.  But  what  is  the  praife  of  men  to  the 
praife  of  God  !  How  mean  are  the  Iplcndid  epithets  of  great,  wife, 
and  learned — puiffant,  brave,  and  magnanimous — compared  with 
the  charafterof  our  holy  prophet,  as  drawn  by  the  infpired  hillo- 
rian,  '  He  walked  with  God.' 

The  phrafe  is  metaphorical,  after  the  eaftern  manner,  and  is 
explained  by  an  infallible  expohtor  to  mean — *  He  p'eafed  God  :' 
but  the  metaphorical  term  is,  perhaps,  more  expreffive  than  any 
purely  literal,  even  in  the  fublime  language  of  the  Greeks. 

To  ivalk  'with  God  implies,  lirft,  a  Hate  of  reconciliation  w^itli 
him  ;  '  Can  two  walk  together  unlefs  they  are  agreed  :'  Certainly 
not,  with  any  degree  of  pleafure.  But  Enoch  (any  more  than 
Abram)  was  not  born  the  '  friend  of  God  ;'  but  rather  at  enmity 
with  him,  a  *  child  of  wrath,  even  as  others  ;'  and  it  was  donbt- 
lefs  the  fame  atoning  blood,  the  fame  divine  grace,  that  reconciled 

him 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   93 

7.  In   Enoch's  tiine   God  more  exprefsly   revealed   the 
coming  of  Chrifl:  than  he  had  beiore  done.     We  have  aif" 
account  of  the  prophecy  of  Enoch  In  the  14th  and  15th 
verfes  of  Jude:   '  And  Enoch  alfo  the  feventh  from  Adam, 

*  propheficd  of   thefe,    laying.    Behold,  tlie  Lord  cometh 

*  with  ten  thoufand  of  liis  faints,  to  execute  judgment 
'  upon  all,  and  to  convince  all  that  are  ungodly  among 
'  them,  for  their  ungodly  deeds  which  they  have  ungodly 
'  committed,  and  of  all  their  hard  fpeeches  which  ungod- 
'  ly  fmners  have  fpoken  againfl  him.'   (s)    This  prophecy 

does 

him  to  God,  which  has  in  all  ages  brought  near  *  them  that  were 

*  afar  off.'  Then  being  reconciled,  he  enjoyed  peace  and  com- 
munion with  God. 

His  name  implies  dedication,  and  perhaps,  like  Samuel,  he  might 
be  early  devoted  to  the  Lord,  and  initiated  betimes  into  his  fervice. 
But  he  reftcd  not  in  this  ;  unfatisfied  with  any  prcfent  attainments, 
he  lludied,  as  the  term  implies,  to  xm^e.  d^  progrefs  in  religion,  he 
'  walked  with  God.' 

Tradition,  very  ancient  and  extenfive,  has  celebrated  his  attain- 
ments in  atironomy,  the  mathematics,  and  other  fciences,  [See 
Univ.  Hid.  Vol.  i.  p.  162.]  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  fludy 
of  nature  might  be  a  favourite  employment  to  one  who  could  con- 
template the  divine  glory  in  all  its  objeifls  ;  nor  is  it  unlikely  that 
fuch  exemplary  piety  was  rewarded  with  confiderable  difcoveries 
in  natural,  as  well  as  divine  things  :  but  this  was  the  fmalleft  part 
of  his  character  ;  his  mind,  doubtlefs,  foared  above  the  (tars,  and 
fought  an  acquaintance  with  eternal  objects — fought  the  felicity  of 
angels — the  image  of  God.  And  he  iought  not  in  vain  ;  preffmg 
towards  the  mark,  he  gained  the  prize,  he  received  his  crown,  at 
an  age  when  many,  in  that  period  of  longevity,  had  not  pafFed 
half  their  mortal  pilgrimage. 

"  Him  the  mod  High, 

Wrapt  in  a  balmy  cloud  with  winged  deeds, 

Receiv'd  to  walk  with  God, 

High  in  falvation  and  the  climes  of  blifs. 

Exempt  from  death." [Par.  Lod.  Book  xi.].      [U.  U.] 

(b)  lue  PROPHECY  of  Enoch] — Is  mere  conedlly  rendered 
thus ;  '  And  Enoch  alfo,  the  feventh  from  Adam,  prophefied 
'  againd  them,  when  he  faid,  Echo'd,  the  Lord  comi's  with  my- 

*  riads  of  his  holy  ones,  to  eXv:L-utJ  judgricnt  up m  all,  and  to 
'  conviv'^  all  the   ungodly  among  th^m  01'  their    impious    works 

*  which  they  have  impioufly  committed  ;  and  of  all  the  hard  ihings 

*  which  impious  fmne/s  have  fpoken  againd  him.' 

♦'  A  prceio'js  fragment  of  antidihivian  hidory   is   here  [in  the 
Epidle  cf  Jude  j   preferved  to  us,  as  it  feem:-  by  the  fpecial  -provi- 
dence 


94  HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

does  not  fecm  to  be  confined  to  any  particular  coming 
of  Chrill: ;  but  it  lias  refpe6l  in  general  to  his  coming  in 
his  kingdom,  and  is  fulfilled,  in  a  degree,  in  every  re- 
markable manifeftation  Chrift  has  inade  of  himfelf  in  the 
world,  for  the  falvation  of  his  people,  and  the  deftrudlion 
of  his  enemies.  It  is  very  parallel  in  this  refpe6t  with 
many  other  prophecies  given  under  the  Old  Teftament; 
and,  in  particular,  with  that  in  the  yth  chapter  of  Da- 
niel, whence  the  Jews  principally  took  their  notion  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,   [ver.   lo.]     '  A  fiery  flream   iflfued, 

*  and   came   forth  from   before    him :    thoufand  thoufands 

*  miniftered  unto  him,  and  ten   thoufand  times  ten  thou- 

*  fand  llood  before  him ;  the  judgment  was  fet,  and  the 
'  books  were  opened.'  And  [ver.  13,  14.]  '  I  faw  in  the 
'  night-vifion,  and  behold  one  like  the  fon  of  man  came 

*  with  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  antient  of 
'  days,  and  they  brought  him  near  before  him.  And 
'  there  was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory,  and  a  kins;- 
'  dom,  that  all  people,  nations,  and  languages  Ihould 
'  ferve  him  :  his  dominion  is  an  everlafting  dominion, 
'  which  fiiall  not  pafs  away,   and  his  kingdom  that  which 

*  fhall  not  be  deflroyed.'  And  though  it  is  not  unlikely 
that  Enoch  might  have  a  more  immediate  refpedl,  in  this 
prophecy,  to  the  approaching  deltrudlicn  of  the  old  world 
by  the  flood,  wliich  was  a  remarkable  s'efemblance  of 
Chrifl's  deil:ru6lion  of  all  his  enemies  at"  his  fecond 
coming,  yet  it  doubtlefs  looked  beyond  the  type  to  the 
antitype. 

And  as  this  prophecy  of  Chrift's  coming  is  more  ex- 
preffed  than  any  preceding  it ;  fo  it  is  an  inftance  of 
the  increafe  of  that  gofpel-Iight  which  began  to  dawn 
prefently  after  the  fall,  or   of  tliat  building   which    is  the 

fubjea 


denceof  God,  who  taught  the  apolllc  Jude  to  didinguifli  between 
what  was  gsnuine  and  fpurious  in  the  tradition.  It  can  by  no 
means  be  proved  that  this  h  3.  quoiation_  (roin.  that  fooliHi  book 
called  Enoch's  Prophecy,  ris  Bp.  Sherlock  has  very  rightly  urged  ; 
nor  would  it  prove  the  infplration  of  the  book  from  whence  it  was 
takeq,  but  only  that  j&(^r//ni/a/' paffage." — -[Doddridge's  Fam. 
Exppf.  ill  loc.J 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   95 

lubjeot  of   our  prefent  difcourfe,  being  farther  carried  on, 
and  built  up  higher  than  it  had  been  before. 

And  here,  by  tlie  way,  I  would  obfervc,  that  the  in- 
creafe  of  gofpel  light,  and  the  progrefs  of  the  work  of 
redemption,  as  it  refpefts  the  church  in  general,  from 
its  erection  to  the  end  of  the  world,  is  very  limilar  to 
the  progrefs  of  the  fiune  work,  and  the  fame  light,  in  a 
particular  foul,  from  the  time  of  its  converfion,  till  it  is 
perfe6ted  and  crowned  in  glory.  Sometimes  the  lio-ht 
ihines  brighter,  and  at  others  more  obfcurely ;  fometimes 
grace  prevails,  and  at  other  times  it  feems  to  languilli  for 
a  great  while  together.  But  in  general,  grace  is  grow- 
ing: from  its  iirfi:  eredlion  till  it  is  completed  in  glory, 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  building  up  in  the  foul.  So  it 
is  with  refpecfl;  to  the  great  affair  in  general,  as  it  relates 
to  the  univerfal  fubjedl  of  it,  and  as  it  is  carried  on  from  its 
hrll:  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

8.  The  next  remarkable  thing  in  carrying  on  t]\is 
work,  was  the  trnaflation  of  Enoch  into  heaven.  [Gen. 
V.  24.]  '  And  Enoch  wall'cd  with  God,  and  he  was  not; 
'  for  God  took  him.'  Mofcs,  in  giving  an  account  of 
tlie  genealogy  of  thofe  that  were  of  the  line  of  Noah, 
does  not  fay  concerning  Enoch,  he  lived  fo  long  and  he 
died,  as  he  does  of  the  rcll:;  but,  '  lie  was  not,  for  God 
'  took  him;'  i.  c.  he  tranflated  him;  in  body  and  foul 
carried  him  to  heaven  without  dying,  as  it  is  explained, 
[in  Heb.  ix  5.]  '  By  faith  Enoch  was  tranflated,  that  he 
'  fhonld  not  fee  death.'  (c)  By  this  wonderful  work  of 
God,  tlic  work  of  redemption  was  carried  to  a  greater 
height  in  feveral  rcfpecls,  than  it  had  been  before. 

You  may  remember,  that  when  1  {hewed  you  what 
were  the  great  things  that  God  intended  in  the  work  of 

redemp- 


i3 


(c)  Enoch  tuas  translated.]  For  this  we  have  divine  au- 
thority, as  above  (hewn,  and  need  not  much  regard  uncei tain  tra- 
ditions. They  will,  however,  in  this  cafe  furnifh  us  with  an  in- 
ftrudivc  obftrvatiun,  viz.  that  human  traditions  generally  either 
oppofe  divine  truths,  or  deprave  them.  In  this  inllance,  many  of 
the  Jews,  thole  mailers  of  tradition,  will  not  believe  but  that 
Enoch  died  like  other  men  j  and  others,  who  admit  his  tranfla- 

O  tioD, 


96  HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

redemption;  among  other  things  I  mentioned  (p.  57)  the 
perfe6t  reftoration  of  the  ruins  of  the  fall,  with  refpeft  to 
the  ele6l,  both  in  foul  and  body.  Now  this  tranflation 
of  Enoch,  was  the  firfl  inftance  of  this  reftoration  with 
refpe6t  to  the  body.  There  had  been  many  inftances  of 
reftoring  the  foul  of  man  by  Chrift's  redemption,  but 
none  of  the  body,  until  now.  At  the  end  of  the  world, 
all  the  bodies  of  the  faints  ihall  a6lual]y  be  redeemed; 
the  dead  in  Chrift  by  a  refurredlion ;  and  them  that  fhall 
remain  alive  by  a  glorious  change.  A  number  of  the  bodies 
of  the  faints  were  raifed  at  the  refurre£lion  of  Chrift ; 
and  before  then  there  was  an  inftance  of  a  body  glorified 
in  Elijah:  but  the  firft  inftance  was  this  of  Enoch,  of 
which  we  are  now  fpeaking. 

Now  the  work  of  redemption  in  this  inftance  was  car- 
ried on  ftill  farther;  as  thereby  was  a  great  increafe  of 
gofpel  light,  and  the  church  had  a  clearer  manifeftation  of 
a  future  ftate,  and  of  the  glorious  reward  of  the  faints  in 
heaven.  We  are  told,  [2  Tim.  i.  10.]  '  That  life  and 
'  immortality  are  brought  to  light  by  the  gofpel.'  And 
the  more  of  this  gofpel  is  revealed,  the  more  clearly  does 
the  light  of  life  and  immortality  appear.  What  was  faid 
in  the  Old  Teftament  of  a  future  ftate,  is  very  obfcure, 
in  coniparifon  with  the  more  full,  plain,  and  abundant 
revelation  given  of  it  in  the  New.  But  yet  even  in  thofc 
early  days,  the  church  of  God,  in  this  inftance,  was  fa- 
voured with  an  evidence  of  it  fet  before  their  eyes,  in  that 
one  of  their  brethren  was  a£lually  taken  up  to  heaven 
without  dying;  which  we  have  reafon  to  think  the  church 
of  God  knew  then,  as  they  afterwards  knew  Elijah's  tranf- 
lalion.  And  as  this  was  a  clearer  manifeftation  of  a  fu- 
ture ftate  than  the  church  had  had  before ;  fo  it  was  a 
pledge  or  earneft  of  that  future  glorification  of  all  the 
faints,  which  God  intended  through  the  redemption  of 
[efus  Chrift. 

9.  The 

tion,  add  to  it,  that  he  was  taken  by  a  ■whirlwind  to  the  terreftrlal 
Paradife,  where  God  (hewed  him  the  tree  of  life  in  the  midlt  of  it. 
[See  Univ.  Hift.  Vol.  i.  p.  163,  and  Ainfworth's  Ann.  in  loc] 

[N.  U.] 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   97 

9.  The  next  thing  that  I  fliall  obferve,  was  the  up- 
holding the  church  of  God  in  that  family  of  which 
Chrifl:  was  to  come,  in  the  time  of  the  great  and  general 
defedlion  before  the  flood.  The  church,  in  all  probability, 
was  fmall,  in  comparifon  with  the  reft  of  the  world, 
from  the  time  that  mankind  firft  began  to  multiply  on 
the  face  of  the  earth,  or  from  the  time  of  Cain's  defec- 
tion, and  departing  from  among  the  people  of  God ; 
[Gen.  iv.  16.]  '  When  Cain  went  out  from  the  prefence 
'  of  the  Lord,  (d)  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Nod;'  (e) 
which  being  interpreted,  is  the  land  of  bamfiment ;  I  fay, 
from  this  time  of  Cain's  departure  and  feparation  from 
the  church  of  God,  it  is  probable  that  the  church  of  God 
was  fmall  in  comparifon  with  the  reft  of  the  world.     The 

O  2  church 

(d)  The  VK'Et'E'HCi.  of  the  Lord.']  "  L'tghtfoot,  Heidegger,  zrA 
Le  Clerc  [to  whom  many  more  might  be  added  j  feem  to  be  of 
opinion,  that  what  we  render  *  i\\t  prefence  oi  the  Lord,'  was  the 
proper  name  of  that  particular  place  where  Adam,  after  his  expul- 
fion  from  Paradife,  dwelt ;  and  accordingly  we  find  that  part  of 
the  country  which  lies  contiguous  to  the  fuppofed  fituation  of  Pa- 
radife, [/.  e.  near  Tripoli,  in  Syria]  called  by  Strabo,  *  tht  pre- 
fence of  God.'     However  this  be,  it  is  agreed  by  all  interpreters, 

that  there  was  a  divine  glory,  called  by  the  Jews  Schechinah, 
which  appeared  from  the  beginning,  and  from  which  Cain,  being 
now  banifhed,  never  enjoyed  the  fight  of  it  again." — [Patrick's 
Comment,  and  Gill's  Expof.] 

(e)  Cain  dnvelt  in  the  land  of  Nod.]  "  It  Is  the  fame  word 
which  is  rendered  in  the  twelfth  and  fourteenth  verfe  a  vagabond. 
Why  our  tranflators  In  the  two  former  verfes  give  the  meaning 
of  the  word,  and  in  the  fixteenth  verfe  the  letters  of  It  merely.  Is 
not  eafily  comprehenfible.  Let  It  be  tranflated  throughout,  the 
fenfe  Is  perfedlly  clear,  and  all  ground  of  Idle  Inquiry  taken  away. 
In  the  twelfth  verfe,  God  denounces  his  punlfliment,  '  thou  fiialt 
'  not  die,  but  be  Nod,  a  vagabond  In  the  earth.'  In  the  fourteenth 
verfe,  Cain  recognizes  the  juftlce  of  the  fentence,  and  bewails  It, 

*  I  (hall  be  Nod,  a  vagabond  In  the  earth  :'  and  In  the  fixteenth, 
Mofes  gives  us  the  hlftory  of  Its  being  put  In  execution  ;  *  he  went 

*  from  the  prefence  of  the  Lord,  and  dwelt  In  the  land,'  Nod,  a 
vagabond,  flying  from  place  to  place,  fliulklng  In  corners,  fiiun- 
ning  the  haunts  of  men,  purfued  Inceflantly  by  the  rcmorfclcfs 
pangs  and  tormenting  apprehenfions  of  an  111  confclence.  Remove 
all  external  danger,  '  and  the  wicked  Is  as  the  troubled  fea,  which 

*  cannot  reft,  whofe  waters  caft  up  mire  and  dirt." — [Hunter's 
Sac.  Biog.  Led.  v.] 


98  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

church  feems  to  have  been  kept  up  chiefly  in  the  pofte- 
rity  of  Seth;  for  this  was  the  feed  that  God  appointed 
inftead  of  Abel,  whom  Cain  flew.  But  we  cannot  rea- 
fonably  fuppofe,  that  Seth's  poflerity  was  one  fiftieth  part 
of  the  world:  "  for  Adam  was  one  liundicd  and  thirty 
years  old  when  Seth  was  born."  But  Cain,  who  feems 
to  have  been  the  leader  of  thofe  that  were  not  of  the 
church,  was  Adam's  eldeft  child,  and  probably  was  born 
foon  after  the  fall,  which  doubtlefs  was  foon  after  Adam's 
creation  ;  fo  that  there  was  time  for  Cain  to  have  many 
fons  before  Seth  was  born :  befules  other  children  that 
probably  Adam  and  Eve  had  before  this  time,  (agreeable 
to  God's  blefiing.  '  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  reple- 
*  nifli  the  earth  ;')  and  many  of  thefe  children  might  alfo 
have  children.  The  hift:ory  of  Cain,  before  Seth's  birth, 
feems  to  imply  that  there  were  great  numbers  of  men   (f) 

on 

(f)  Great  numbers  of  men  on  the  earth  at  this  time.']  It  is  ge- 
nerally conjeftured  [from  Gen.  iv.  25.]  that  Abel  was  murdered  a 
year  or  two  before  Seth  was  born,  which  was  in  the  year  130. 

"  Now  though  we  fhould  fuppofe  that  Adam  and  Eve  had  no 
other  fons  in  the  year  of  the  world  one  hundred  and  twenty -eight, 
but  Cain  and  Abel,  it  mull  be  allowed  that  they  had  daughters, 
who  might  early  marry  with  thofe  two  fons.  I  require  no  more 
than  the  defcendants  of  thefe  two,  to  make  a  veiy  confiderable 
number  of  men  upon  the  esrth  in  the  faid  year  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight;  for,  fuppofing  them  to  have  been  married, in  the 
nineteenth  year  of  the  world,  they  might  eafily  have  had  each  of 
them  eight  children  in  the  twenty-fifth  year.  In  twenty-five  years 
more,  the  fiftieth  of  the  world,  their  defcendants  in  a  diredt  line 
would  be  fixty-four  perfons.  In  the  feventy-fifth  year,  at  the 
fame  rate,  they  would  amount  to  five  hundred  and  twelve.  In  the 
hundredth  year,  to  four  thoufand  and  ninety-fix  ;  and  in  the  hun- 
dred and  twenty-fifth  year,  to  thirty-two  tlioufand  feven  hundred 
and  fixty-eight." — [Uiflert.  Chronol.  Gcog.  Cvitiq.  fur  la  Journal 
de  Paris,  Tom.  li.  p.  6.] 

"  Now  if  to  this  calculation  we  add  the  high  degree  of  proba- 
bility that  Adam  had  many  more  fons  befides  thofe  mentioned  in 
the  record  ;  that  families  were  generally  more  numerous  than  the 
fuppofitlon  Hates  ;  that  fimple  manners,  rural  employments,  tem- 
perature of  climate,  and  largenefs  of  room,  arc  circumftances  in- 
conceiveably  more  favourable  to  population,  than  modern  fads, 
and  European  cuftoms,  give  us  any  idea  of,  we  fliall  not  think  it 
ilrange  that  Cain,  under  the  prefiure  of  confcious  guilt,  and  har- 
rowed 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD.   99 

on  the  earth:  [Gen.  iv.  14,  15.]  '  Behold,  thou  hafl 
'  driven  me  out  this  day  from  the  face  of  the  eartli ;  and 

*  from  thy  face  ihall  I  be  hid,   and  I  Ihall  be  a  fugitive  and 

*  a  vagabond  in  the  earth  ;  and  it  fliall  come  to  pafs,  that 

*  every  one  that  findeth  me  fhall  flay  me.  And  the  Lord 
'  faid  \into  him,  Therefore  \vhofoe\er  flayetli  Cain,  vcn- 
'  geance  fliall  he  taken  on  him  feven-fold.  And  the 
'  Lord  fet  a  mark  upon  Cain,  led:  any  finding  him  ihould 

*  kill  him.'  (g)  And  thofe  that  were  in  being  when  Seth 
was  born,  muft  be  fuppofed  to  ftand  in  equal  cnpacity  of 
multiplying  their  poilerity  with  him  ;  and  therefore,  as  I 
faid,  Seth's  pofterity  were  but  a  fmall  part  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  world. 

But  after  the  days  of  Enos  and  Enoch,  (for  Enoch  was 
tranflated  before  Enos  died  ;  I  fay,  after  their  days)  the 
church  of  God  greatly  diminiHied,  in  proportion  as  mul- 
titudes that  were  of  the  line  of  Scrh,  and  had  been  born 
in  the  church  of  God,  fell  away,  and  joined  with  the 
wicked  world,    principally   by    means   of   intermarriages 

with 

rovi'ed  with  fear,  which  always  both  multiplies  and  magnifies  ob- 
jects far  beyond  their  real  number  and  fize,  fhould  be  alarmed 
and  intimidated  at  the  numbers  of  mankind,  who  he  fuppofed 
were  ready,  and  were  concerned,  to  execute  vengeance  upon  him." 
—  [Hunter's  Sac.  Biog.  Vol.  i*  left.  5.] 

(g)  The  Lord  Jet  a  mark  upon  Cain.~\  "  Almoft  all  the  ver- 
fions  have  committed  a  miflake  in  tranflating  ver.  15,  tliat  God 
had  *  put  a  mark  Vi^ow  Cain,'  left  any  fuddenly  fliould  kill  him. 
The  original  fays  no  fuch  thing  ;  and  the  LXX  have  very  well 
rendered  it  thus — *  God  fet  a  fign  before  Cain,  to  purfuade  him 
that  whoever  fliould  find  him  fliould  not  kill  him.'  This  is  al- 
moft the  fame  with  what  is  faid  in  Exod.  x.  i.  that  '  God  did  fet 

*  fjgns  before  the  Egyptians  ;'  and  Ifa.  Ixvi.  15.  that  '  he  would  fet 
'  a^^«  before  the  heathen  ;'  where  it  is  evident  that  God  did  not 
mean  any  particular  marh  which  (hould  be  fet  on  their  bodies,  but 
only  thofe  figns  and  wonders  which  he  wrought  in  Egypt,  to  oblige 
Pharaoh  to  let  his  people  go  ;  and  the  miraculous  manner  where- 
in he  delivered  them  from  the  Babylonifti  captivity.  This  expo- 
fition  is  natural  and  agreeable  to  the  methods  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, which  is  wont  to  convince  the  incredulous  by  figns  and 
wonders  ;  nor  could  any  thing  elfe  convince  Cain,  in  the  fear  he 
was  under,  that  the  firft  who  met  liim  fliould  not  kill  him,  after 

what  God  had  faid  to  him  in  exprobration  of  his  crim.e." 

[Patrick's  Comment,  and  Saurin's  DifFert.] 


loo        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

with  them  ;   [as  Gen.  vi.    1,2,  and  4.]    '  And  it  came  to 

*  pafs,  when  men  began  to  multiply  on   the  face  of  the 

*  earth,  and  daughters  were  born  unto  them,  that  the  fons 

*  of  God  faw  the  daughters  of  men,  that  they  were  fair ; 

*  and  they  took  them  wives  of  all  which  they  chofe. — 

*  There  were  giants   in  the  earth  in  thofe  days ;  and  alfo 

*  after  that,    when  the  fons   of    God   came  in  unto   the 

*  daughters  of  men,  and  they  bare   children  to  them,  the 

*  fame  became  mighty  men,  which  were  of  old,  men  of 

*  renown.'  (h)  By  the  fons  of  God  here,  are  doubtlefs 
meant  the  children  of  the  church  :  it  is  a  denomination 
often  given  them   in   the  fcripture.      They  intermarried 

with 

(h)  There  were  giants  oh  the  earth  in  thofe  dnys.']  Here  are 
two  inquiries  which  prefent  thcmfelves  ;  i .  What  is  meant  by  the 
fons  of  GoJintermanylng  with  the  daughters  of  men  ?  And  what 
were  thefe  giants  here  mentioned  ? 

As  to  the  former,  the  expofition  of  our  author  is  generally  ac- 
quiefced  in,  and  there  is  but  little  doubt  that  is  the  true  one. 
There  is  another,  however,  efpoiifed  by  fome  of  the  beft  Jewlfli 
writers,  as  Ben  Uzziel,  S.  Jarchi,  Aben  Ezra,  and  the  Tar- 
gums,  and  which  therefore  may  defervc  mentioning,  viz.  that 
the  fons  of  God  were  princes,  magiftrates,  and  great-men  ;  and 
daughters  of  men,  thofe  of  the  inferior  and  poor  people,  which 
they  took  by  violence,  as  the  word  fometimes  means,  and  de- 
bauched.  [See  Univ.  Hiil.  Vol.  i.  p.  175.] 

As  to  the  other  inquiry,  there  is  no  doubt,  if  we  credit  hif- 
tory,  either  facred  or  prophane,  but  there  were  formerly  men  of 
extraordinary  ftature,  as,  indeed,  to  this  day  v;e  meet  with  fome 
accidental  inftances  ;  not  to  mention  the  Patagonians,  a  nation  of 
fuch  men,  if  we  may  credit  the  relations  in  Mr.  Pennant's  traft. 
f  See  the  Analytical  Review,  No.  i.] — But  however  fome  critics 
have  thought  that  the  paffage  before  us  does  not  refer  to  fuch. 
Some  tranflate  the  Hebrew  word  v.ephmm,  npo/Iatcs,  thofe  who  have 
fell  from  the  truth  ;  fo  Jofephus :  bat  Symmachus  and  Aquila 
underftand  it  more  literally  of  ruffians,   men  of  'v'lclence,  men  ivho 

attaclif   who  fall  upon   others. [See  Cruden's  Concord,  in 

Giant. 2 

The  abfurd  notion  that  the  fons  of  God  were  angels,  either 
fallen  or  guardian,  is  too  abfurd  to  deferve  refutation.  It  is  fupr 
pofed,  however,  that  this  notion  originntedfrom  an  error  in  fome 
old  copies  of  the  LXX,  which  read,  the  angels,  inflead  of  the  fons 
of  God  ;  and  it  was  in  great  meafure  propagated  by  the  book  of 

the  pretended  prophecies  of  Enoch. [See  Unir.  Hid.  Vol.  i. 

p.  172,  and  feq.J 


FROM  THE  FALL  TO  THE  FLOOD,   ice 

with  the  wicked  world,  and  fo  their  hearts  were  led  away 
liom  God  ;  and  there  was  a  great  and  continual  defec- 
tion :  and  the  cliurch  of  God,  which  ufed  to  be  a  reftraint 
on  tlie  wicked  world,  diniiniflied  exceedingly,  and  fo 
wickednefs  went  on  uncontrolled.  Satan,  that  old  ferpent, 
the  devil,  that  tempted  our  tirft  parents,  and  fet  up  him- 
lelf  as  God  of  this  world,  raged  exceedingly  ;  and  every 
Imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  man's  heart  was  only  evil 
continually,  (i)  and  the  earth  was  filled  with  violence. 
It  feems  to  be  deluged  with  wickednefs  now,  as  it  was  with 
water  afterwards :  and  mankind  in  general  were  fwallowed 
up  in  this  deluge.  And  now  Satan  made  a  mod  violent 
and  potent  attempt  to  deflroy  the  church  of  God  ;  and 
had  almoft  done  it :  but  God  reftored  it  in  the  midft  of 
all  this  flood  of  wickednefs  and  violence.  He  kept  it  up 
in  the  line  of  which  Chrift  was  to  proceed.  He  would 
not  fuffer  it  to  be  deftroyed,  for  a  blefling  was  in  it. 
There  was  a  particular  family,  a  root  whence  '  the  branch 
'  of  righteoufnefs'  was  afterwards  to  flioot  forth.  And 
therefore,  however  the  branches  were  lopped  off,  and  the 
tree  feemed  to  be  deftroyed;  yet  God,  in  the  midft  of  all, 
kept  alive  this  root,  by  his  wonderful  redeeming  power 
and  grace. 

Thus  I  have  flievvn  how  God  carried  on  the  great 
affair  of  redemption  ;  how  the  building  went  on  during 
the  firft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament,  viz.  from  the  fall 
of  man,  till  God  brought  the  flood  upon  the  earth. 
And  I  would  here  remark,  that  though  the  hiftory  which 
Mofes  gives  us  of  the  great  works  of  God  during  that 
fpace  be  very  fliort ;   (k)   yet  it  is  exceedingly  comprehen- 

11  ve 

(i)  Man*  s  heart  only  evil.]]  "  The  original  [text]  is  very  ex-' 
aft  in  its  ftrufture,  as  well  as  very  emphatical  in  its  meaning. — 
The  /jeart,  or  the  grand  principle,  the  thoughts  of  the  heart,  or 
the  various  aftings  of  that  principle,  the  imaginations  of  the 
thoughts,  or  the  produce  and  refult  of  thofe  aftings  ;  namely,  de- 
fires  and    affeftions,  counfels  and  purpofea  :  of  which,  not  one, 

not  a  few  pnly,  or  the  greateft  part,  but  a/I  thefc  are  evil." . 

[Hervev's  Ther.  and  Afp.  vol.  ii.  dial,  ii.] 

(  K  )    The  hijiory  of  this  period  very  short.]      How  few  chapters 
contain  the  hiitory  of  our  world  before  the  flood,  although  a  pe- 
riod 


I02         HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

five  and  inflru6tive.  And  It  may  alfo  be  profitable  to 
obferve,  the  efficacy  of  that  purchafe  of  redemption  that  had 
fuch  great  effefts,  even  many  ages  before  Chrifl  appeared 
to  purchafe  redemption,  by  the  lliedding  of  his  blood. 


§  II.   From  the  flood  to  the  calling  of  Abraham. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  fhew  how  the  fame  work  was 
carried  on  through  the  fecond  part  of  this  period,  from  the 
beginning  of  the  flood  till  the  calling  of  Abraham  :  for  though 
that  vmiverfal  deluge  of  waters  overthrew  the  world  ;  yet 
it  did  not  overthrow  tliis  building  of  God,  the  work  of 
redemption.  This  went  on  yet,  and  continued  to  be  built 
up  to  a  farther  preparation  for  the  great  Saviour's  coming 
into  the  world,  and  working  out  redemption  for  his  people. 
And  here  obferve, 

I.  The  flood  itfelf  was  a  work  of  God  that  belonged  to 
this  great  affair,  and  tended  to  promote  it.  All  the  great 
works  of  God,  from  the  tall  to  the  end  of  the  world,  rightly 
viewed,  will  appear  as  parts  of  this  grand  work  ;  and  as  fo 
many  fleps  that  God  has  taken  in  order  to  its  being  carried 
on  :  and  doubtlefs  fo  great  a  work,  fo  remarkable  a  cataf- 
trophc,  as  the  deluge  was,  cannot  be  excepted.  It  was 
wrought  in  order  to  remove  out  of  the  way,  enemies  that 
were  ready  to  overthrow  it. 

Satan  feems  to  have  been  in  a  dreadful  rage  juft  before 
the  flood  ;  and  his  rage  then  doubtlefs  was,  as  it  always 
has  been,  chiefly  againfl:  the  church  of  God.  He  had 
drawn  alrnofl:  all  the  world  to  be  enlifted  under  his  ban- 
ner. 


riod  of  near  fcventeen  hundred  years  ;  and  including  no  lefs  events 
than  the  creation  of  the  world — the  fall  of  man — and  bringing  us 
to  the  eve  of  the  world's  deftruftiori.  What  are  the  memoirs 
of  the  oldeft  patriarchs,  but  that  thi'y  were  born — propagated 
their  fpecies — and  then  died  ? — Sic  tranfit  gloria  mundi.  '  Thus  the 
*  fafliion  of  this  world  paffeth  away.'     [i  Cor.  vii.  31.]     [I.  N.J 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'*  CALL.    103 

ncr.  '  We  read  that  the  earth  was  filled  with  violence ;' 
and  doubtlefs  that  violence  was  chiefly  againft  the  church, 
in  fulfilment  of  what  was  foretold,  '  I  will  put  enmity 
'  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed.'  And  their  enmity  and 
violence  was  fo  great,  and  the  enemies  of  the  church  fo 
numerous,  the  whole  world  being  againft  it,  that  it  was 
come  to  the  lafl:  extremity.  Noah's  reproofs  and  his 
preaching  of  righteoufnefs  were  utterly  difregarded.  God's 
fpirit  had  ftriven  with  them  an  hundred  and  twenty  years, 
but  in  vain ;  (l)  the  church  was  reduced  to  fuch  narrow- 
limits,  as  to  be  confined  to  one  family.  Neither  was  there 
a  profpccl  of  any  thing  elfe  but  of  their  totally  fwallowing 
it  up  in  a  very  little  time  ;  and  fo  wholly  deftroying  that 
fmall  root  that  had  the  bleffing  in  it,  from  whence  the 
Redeemer  was  to  proceed. 

And  therefore,  God's  deftroying  thofe  enemies  of  the 
church  by  the  flood,  belongs  to  this  affair  of  redemption  ; 
for  it  was  one  thing  that  was  done  in  fulfilment  of 
the  covenant  of  grace,  as  it  was  revealed  to  Adam  :  '  I 
'  will  put  enmity  between  thee  and  the  woman,  and  be- 
'  tweea  thy  feed   and  her  feed  ;    it  fiiall  bruife  thy  head.' 

P  Thus 

(l)  God's  fpirit  had  striven  nvilh  them  in  vain.']  "  The  word 
here  traiiflated  to  llrive,  fignilies  to  litigate  a  point  or  reafon  in  a 
caufc,  before  it  is  ripe  for  judgment 

"  It  is  now  eafy  to  difcern  in  what  fenfe  the  Spirit  of  God  may 
be  oppofcd  and  rcfiltcd,  and  ftrive  to  no  purpofe,  and  in  what 
fenfe  not.  The  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  are  difagreeable  to  a 
natural  man  :  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  external  miniftry  of  the 
word  and  ordinances  are  defpifed,  oppofed,  and  refiiled.  The  ex- 
ternal caufe  may  be  rejefted  ;  yea,  fome  inward  inotions  and  con- 
viftions  may  be  over-ruled,  ftiflcd,  and  come  to  nothing  ;  nay,  it 
will  be  granted,  that  there  may  be,  and  is  an  oppofition  and  re- 
fiftancc  to  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  converfion  ;  but  then 
the  Spirit  cannot  be  fo  refilled  in  the  operations  of  his  grace  as  to 
be  obliged  to  ceafe  from  his  work,  or  to  be  overcome  or  hindered 
In  it  ;  for  he  ac^s  with  a  defign  which  cannot  be  fruftrated,  and 
with  a  power  which  is  uncontroulable  ;  were  It  otherwife,  the  re- 
generation and  converfion  of  every  one  muft  be  precarious  ;  and 
where  the  grace  of  the  Spirit  is  effeftual,  according  to  the  doc- 
ti  Ine  of  free-will,  It  would  be  more  owing  to  the  will  of  man  than 
to  the  Spirit  of  God."  [Gill's  Caufe  of  God  and  Truth,  Part 
T.  No.  2.1 


T04        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Thus  w.-TS  the  feed  of  the  ferpent,  in  the  midft  of  tlieir 
moft  violent  rage,  difappointed,  and  the  church  delivered 
when  in  the  utmoft  peril. 

We  read  of  fcarce  any  great  deftrutlion  of  nations  in 
the  Scripture,  but  one  grand  reafon  given  for  it  is,  their 
enmity  and  injuries  againft  God's  people  ;  and  doubtlels 
this  was  one  main  reafon  of  the  defl:ru6lion  of  all  nations 
by  the  flood.  The  giants  that  were  in  thofe  days,  in  all 
likelihood,  got  themfelves  their  renown  by  their  great  ex- 
ploits againft  Heaven,  and  the  remaining  fons  of  God  that 
had  not  corrupted  themfelves. 

We  read  that  jtift  befc^e  the  world  Ihall  be  deftroyed 
by  nre,  '  the  nations  that  are  in  the  four  quarters  of  the 
'  earth,  fhall  gather  together  againft  the  church  as  the  fand 
'  of  tlie  fea,  and  fliall  go  up  on  the  breadth  of  the  earth, 

•  and  compafs  the  camp  of  the  faints  about,  and  the  be- 

•  lovdd  city ;  and  then  fire  ftiall  come  down  from  God  out 
'  of  heaven,  and  devour  them.'  [Rev.  xx.  8,  9.]  And  it 
feems  there  was  that  which  was  very  parallel  to  it,  juft 
before  the  world  was  deftroyed  by  water.  And  therefore 
their  deftru6lion  was  a  work  of  God  that  did  as  much 
belong  to  the  work  of  redemption,  as  the  deftruction  of 
the  Egyptians  belonged  to  the  redemption  of  the  children 
of  lirael  out  of  Egypt ;  or  as  the  deftru6lion  of  Senna- 
cherib's mighty  arm.y,  that  had  compafled  about  Jerufalem 
to  deftroy  it,  belonged  to  God's  redemption  of  that  city 
from  them. 

By  means  of  this  flood,  all  the  enemies  of  God's  church, 
againft  wliom  that  little  handful  had  no  ftrength,  were 
fwept  off  at  once,  (m)  God  took  their  part,  and  appeared 
for  them  againft  their  enemies,  drowned  tliofe  of  whom 
they  had  been  atraid  in  this  flood,  as  he.drowned  the  enemies 
of  Ifrael  that  purfucd  them  in  the  Red  Sea. 

Indeed 


(m)  Tl)e  enemies  of  the  church  all  Jivept  off  at  once  by  the  flood.] 
Well,  faith  the  apoftle,  [Heb.  x.  31.]  '  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall 
<  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God.'  Dreadful  judgments  follow 
abufed  mercies.  One  hundred  and  twenty  years  had  the  divine 
patience  waited — one  liundredand  twenty  years  liad  the  holy  pro- 
phet 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.    lo^ 

Indeed  God  could  have  taken  other  methods  to  deliver 
his  church :  he  could  have  converted  all  the  world,  inftead 
of  drowning  it ;  and  fo  he  could  have  taken  another 
method  than  drowning  the  Egyptians  in  the  Red  Sea. 
But  that  is  no  argument,  that  the  method  that  he  did  take, 
was  not  a  method  to  fliow  his  redeeming  mercy  to  his 
people. 

By  the  deluge  the  enemies  of  God's  people  were  d'if- 
pofTcffed,  and  the  whole  earth  given  to  Noah  and  his 
family  to  enjov  in  quiet ;  as  God  made  room  for  the 
Ifraelites  in  Canaan,  hy  cafting  out  their  enemies  from 
before  them.  And  God's  thus  taking  the  poflefhon  of  the 
enemies  of  the  church,  and  giving  it  all  to  his  church, 
was  agreeable  to  that  promife  ot  the  covenant  of  grace  : 
[Pfal.  xxxvii.  9,  lO,  ii.]  '  For  evil  doers  fliall  be  cut 
'  off;  but  thofe  that  wait  upon  the  Lord,  they  fliall  inherit 

*  the  earth.      For  yet  a  little  while  and   the  wicked  Ihal! 

*  not  be:  yea,  thou  Ihalt  diligently  confider  his  place. 
'  and  it  fliall  not  be.  But  the  meek  Ihall  inherit  tlic 
'  earth,  and  Ihall  delight  themfeives  in  the  abundance  of 

*  peace.' 

2.  Another  thing  belonging  to  the  fame  work,  Vv'as 
God's    fo    wonderfully   prcferving   that    family  of   which 

P  2  the 

phct  warned  that  perverfe  generation  ;  but  in  vain.  Imagination 
is  too  weak  to  conceive,  as  well  as  language  to  paint,  the  av/ful 
event  winch  follows — while 

"  With  black  wings 

Wide  hovering,  all  the  clouds  together  drove 

From  under  heaven 

And  now  the  thicken'd  flvy 

Like  a  dark  ceiling  flood  ;  down  rufli'd  the  rain 
Impetuous,  and  continued,  till  the  earth 
No  more  was  feen  ;  the  floating  veffcl  fwam 
Uplifted,  and  fecure  with  beaked  prow 
Rode  tilting  o'er  the  waves  ;  all  dwellings  elfe 
Flood  overwhelm'd,  and  them,  with  all  their  pomp, 
Deep  under  water  roU'd  ;  fea  covet 'd  fea, 
Sea  without  fliore  ;  and  in  their  palaces, 
Where  luxury  late  rcign'd,  fea  monfters  whelp'd 
And  ftabled  ;  of  mankind,  fo  numerous  late, 
All  left,  in  one  fmall  bottom  fwam  embark'd." — 

[Par.  Loft.   Book  :;i.] [U.  U.J 


io6        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

the  Redeemer  was  to  proceed,  when  all  tke  reft  of  the 
world  was  drowned.  God's  drowning  the  world,  au4 
faving  Noah  and  his  family,  were  both^  reducible  to  this 
great  work.  The  faving  Noah  and  his  family  belonged 
to  it  two  ways  ;  as  that  was  the  family  of  which  the  Re- 
deemer was  to  proceed,  and  as  it  was  the  church  that  he 
had  redeemed.  It  was  the  myftical  body  of  Chrift  that 
Avas  there  faved.  The  manner  of  God's  faving  thofe 
perfons,  when  all  the  world  befides  was  fo  overthrown, 
was  very  wonderful  and  remarkable.  It  was  a  wonder- 
ful and  remarkable  type  of  the  redemption  of  Chrift, 
of  that  redemption  that  is  fealed  by  the  baptifm  of  water, 
and  is  fo  fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teftament,  [as  i  Pet. 
iii.  20,21.]  '  Which  fometimes  were  difobedieot,  when 
'  once  the  long-fuftering  of  God  waited  in  the  days  of 
*  Noah,  while  the  ark  was  a  preparing,  wherein  few, 
'  that  is,  eight  fouls,  were  faved  by  water.  The  like 
'  figure  whereunto,  even  baptifm,  doth  alfo  now  fave  us, 
'  (not  the  putting  away  the  filth  of  the  ^eih,  but  the 
'  anfwer  of  a  good  confcience  towards  God,)  by  the 
°  refurre6tion  of  Jefus  Chrift.'    (n)      That   water   which 

w a  (lied 

(n)  Which  fomethne  tverc  difobedlent,  idc.~]  At  prefent  we  fliall 
only  fubjoin  the  tranfiatlon  and  paraphrafe  of  this  text  (including 
part  of  the  context)  from  Dr.  Doddridge,  which  perfe-ftly  coio' 
cides  with  the  fenfe  of  our  author,  and  we  think  with  the  truth. 
But  as  many  have  fuppofed  it  to  refer  to  another  period,  viz.  to 
Chrift's  preaching  in  the  invifible  world,  v/c  Hiall  in  the  proper 
place  reconfider  the  text  with  that  interpretation  of  it. 

I.  Peter  iii.  i8 — 22.  "  I  have  already  obferved,  that  if  it  be 
the  will  of  God  you  fliould  fuiTer,  it  is  better  it  fhould  be  for  do- 
ing well  than  for  doing  evil  ;  and  it  is  very  evidently  fo,  becavfe 
hereby  we  are  made  conformable  to  Chr'ijl  our  head  and  leader, 
whom  it  cannot  but  be  our  glory  and  happinefs  to  refemble  ;  for 
he  alfo  once  fuffired for  Jins  ;  he,  who  was  fo  eminently  and  pcr- 
feftly  the  jtifl,  fufFered  for  the  twjuji,  for  our  benefit,  and  in  our 
Head,  that  he  might  introduce  us  to  God,  and  fix  us  in  a  ftate  cf 
acceptance  a-nd  favourable  intereourfe  with  him,  being  indeed  put 
to  death  in  thejlejlj,  by  thofe  enemies  whom  God  permitted  for  a 
while  to  triumph  over  him  ;  but  quickened  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
which  foon  re-animated  his  body,  and  raifed  it  to  an  immortal  life: 
f  ytn  that  Spirit  by  the  infpiration  of  ivhich  granted  to  his  faithful 

fervant 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.    107 

wafhed  away  the  filth  of  the  world,  and  ciearetl  the 
world  of  wicked  men,  was  a  type  of  the  blood  of  Chrift 
which  takes  away  onr  fins.  That  water  which  delivered 
Noah  and  his  fens  from  their  enemies,  is  a  type  of  the 
blood  that  delivers  God's  church  from  their  fpiritual 
enemies.  That  water  which  was  fo  plentiful,  that  it 
filled  the  woild,  and  reached  above  the  tops  of  the  higheft 
mountains,  was  a  type  of  that  blood,  tlie  efficacy  of  which 
is  fo  abundant,  that  it  is'fufficient  for  the  whole  world  ; 
fufficient  to  bury  the  highefi:  mountains  of  fin.  The  ark, 
that  was  the  refuge  and  hiding-place  of  the  church  in  this 
time   of  ftorm  and  flood,  was  a  type  of  Chrill,  the  true 

hiding- 

fervant  Noah,  going  forth  as  it  Vv  ere,  in  that  progrefs  in  which  he 
employed  him,  he  preached  to  thofe  notorious  finners,  who  for 
their  difobedience,  have  fince  experienced  the  juft  feverity  of  the 
divine  vengeance,  and  are  now  in  the  condition  of  feparate^/W/j, 
referved  as  it  were  in  prifoti,  to  the  feverer  judgment  at  the  great 
day.  I  fpeak  of  thofe,  'who  ivere  /ongjtttce  difobedient,  <zvheti  once 
the  abufed  and  infulted  long-fujfcring  of  a  companionate  God 'waited 
upon  them,  in  the  days  of  the  patriarch  Noah,  during  the  fuccef- 
fion  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  years,  'while  the  ark  'was preparing  : 
in  'which  few,  that  is,  eight  fouls,  of  Noah  and  his  wife,  his  three 
fons  and  their  wives,  'were  carried  fafly  through  the  tvater,  in 
which  the  refidue  of  mankind  perifhed.  The  antitype  to  •which^ 
(or  that  whicli  correfponds  to,  and  was  figured  by  it,  that  it,  by 
the  prcfervation  of  Noah's  family  in  the  ark,)  does  tio'w  fave  uSf 
or  is  the  inftrument  of  our  fafety  and  prefervation,  as  the  ark 
was  of  theirs  ;  [/  mean]  baptifm,  whereby  we  are  received  into 
the  Chriftian  church,  and  numbered  amongft  the  heirs  of  falva- 
tion  ;  but  then  it  is  to  be  remembered,  that  it  is  not  merely  the 
putting  away  the  pollution  of  thejlejh  by  the  ufe  of  material  water, 
for  that  would  be  very  infignificant ;  lut  the  anfwer  of  a  good 
confcience,  the  reply  that  it  makes  when  interrogated  in  the  pre- 
fenct  of  God,  and  fpoken  in  fuch  a  language  as  he  only  is  capa- 
ble of  hearing  and  underftanding  ;  and  when  this  likewife  is 
found,  when  we  attain  falvation,  by  that  great  event  in  which  at 
baptifm  we  declare  ourfelves  believers  ;  I  mean  the  refurredion  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl  from  the  dead  ;  ivho  is  now  fct  down  at 
the  right  hand  of  God,  being  gone  into  heaven,  there  to  take  pof- 
feffion  of  the  glory  prepared  for  him,  v/liere  he  reigns  fuprcmc 
over  all  worlds,  all  the  angels  and  authorities  and  po'wsrs,  v.hicli 
are  there  enthroned,  Icing  made  fuljcB  to  him,  and  humbly  l«o\v- 
in^  before  liis  funcii-M-  dignity  and  authoritv.       [Faai.  Expof.] 

\l.  N.l 


io8         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

hiding-place  of  the  church  from  the  ftorms  and  floods  of 
God's  wrath. 

3,  The  next  thing  obfervable  is,  the  new  grant  of  the 
earth  made  to  Noah  and  his  family  immediately  after  the 
flood,  as  founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace.  The  facri- 
hce  of  Chrift  was  reprefented  by  Noah's  building  an  altar 
to  the  Lord,  and  offering  a  facrifice  of  every  clean  beaft, 
and  every  clean  fowl.  And  we  have  an  account  of  God's 
accepting  this  facrifice,  and  thereupon  bleffing  Noah,  and 
eftablifhing  his  covenant  with  him,  and  with  his  feed, 
promifnig  to  deftroy  the  earth  in  like  manner  no  more; 
this  fignifying  that,  by  the  facrifice  of  Chrifl,  God's  people 
are  in  fafety  from  his  deftroying  judgments,  and  obtain 
the  blefhng  of  the  Lord.  And  God  now,  on  occalion 
of  this  facrificis  that  Noah  offered,  gives  him  and  his 
pofterity  a  new  grant  of  the.  earth  ;  a  new  power  of  do- 
minion over  the  creatures,  as  founded  on  that  facrifice, 
and  fo  on  the  covenant  of  grace.  And  thus  it  is  to  be 
looked  upon  as  a  diftin6l  grant  from  that  which  was  made 
to  Adam,  [Gen.  i.  28.]     '  And   God  blefTed   them,    and 

*  God  faid  unto  them,    Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  re-  | 
'  plenilh  the  earth,    and  fubdue   it ;    and  'lave   dominion 

*  oyer  the  fiih  of  the  fea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air, 
^  and  over  every  living  thing  that  moveth  upon  the  earth.' 
Which  grant  was  not  founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace  ; 
for  it  was  o-iven  to  Adam  while  he  was  under  the  covenant 
of  works,  and  therefore  was  rendered  void  when  that  co- 
venant ceafed.  The  firli  grant  of  the  eartlt  to  Adam  was 
founded  on  the  firft  covenant ;  and  therefore,  when  that 
flrfl  covenant  was  broken,  the  rigiit  conveyed  to  him  by 
it  was  forfeited  and  loft.  Hence  it  came  to  pafs,  tliat  the 
earth  was  taken  away  from  mankind  by  the  flood  ;  for  the 
firft  grant  was  forfeited ;  and  God  had  never  made  another 
after  that,  till  after  the  flood.  If  the  firft  covenant  had  not 
been  broken,  God  never  would  have  drowned  the  world, 
and  fo  have  taken  it  away  from  nir^nlvind:  for  then  the  firft 
grant  would  have  flood  good.  But  that  being  broken,  God, 
after  a  while,  deftroycd  the  eartli,  when  the  wickednefs  of 
man  was  great  upon  it. 

But 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.    109 

But  after  the  tlootl,  on  Noah's  offering  a  facrihce  that 
rcprefented  the  lacritice  of  Chrift,  God,  in  fmelHng  a 
fweet  favour,  or  accepting  that  facrihce  (as  it  was  a  re- 
prefentation  of  the  true  iacritice  of  Chriil:,  which  is  a 
fweet  favour  indeed  to  God)  gives  Noah  a  new  grant  of 
the  earth,  founded  thereon  ;  or  on  that  covenant  of  grace 
which  is  by  the  facrifice  of  Chriffc,  with  a  promife  an- 
nexed, that  now  the  earth  ihould  no  more  be  dertroyed, 
till  the  confummation  of  all  things ;  as  you  may  fee  in 
Gen.  viii.  20,  21,  22.  and  chap.  ix.  i,  2,  3,  7.  The 
reafon  why  luch  a  promife  was  added  to  this  grant  made 
to  Noah,  and  not  to  that  made  to  Adam,  was  becaufe  this 
was  founded  on  the  covenant  oi  grace,  of  which  Chrift 
was  the  furety,  and  therefore  could  not  be  broken.  And 
therefore  it  comes  to  pafs  now,  that  though  the  wicked- 
nefs  of  man  has  dreadfully  raged,  and  the  earth  has  been 
filled  with  violence  and  wickednefs  a  thoufand  times, 
one  age  after  another,  and  more  dreadful  and  aggravated 
wickednefs  than  the  world  was  full  of  before  the  flood, 
being  againfi:  fo  much  greater  light  and  mercy,  efpecially 
in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel  ;  yet  God's  patience  holds  out ; 
he  does  not  dellroy  the  earth  ,  his  mercy  and  forbearance 
abides  according  to  his  promife  ;  and  his  grant  eftablilhed 
with  Noah  and  his  fons  remains  firm  and  good,  being 
founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace. 

4.  On  this  God  renews  wirh  Noah  and  his  fons  the 
covenant  of  grace.  Gen.  ix.  9,  10.  '  And  I,  behold, 
*  I  eflablilli  my  covenant  with  you,  and  with  your  feed 
'  after  you,  and  with  every  living  creature  that  is  with 
'  you,'  &c.  ;  which  even  the  brute  creation  have  this 
benefit  of,  that  it  fliall  never  be  deitroyed  again  until  the 
i  onfummation  of  all  things.  When  we  have  this  expref- 
fion  in  Icripture,  my  covenant,  it  commonly  is  to  be  un- 
derftood  ot  the  covenant  of  grace,   (o)     The  manner   of 

expreffion. 


(o)  My  covr.K. \ST  is  ^e/!era//y  to  li  vnderfiood  of  the  covenant 
nj  grace.']  Thdcarfied  are  by  no  means  agreed,  either  as  to  the 
derivation,  or  radical  meaning  of  the  original  term  berlth. 
It  16  well  known  that  Mr.  Hutchinson   infifted  on   its  meaning 

the 


iio         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

expreflTion,  '  I  will  eltablifli  my  covenant  with  you,  and 
*  with  your  feed  after  you,'    (p)   fliews  plainly,  that  it  was 

a  cove- 

\h.<i pur'ifi'Tf  or  a  punf.catlon-facnji'ce,  and  fo  conftantly  tranflated 
it :  and  without  entering  into  all  the  reveries  of  that  ingenious 
man  on  this  fubjeft,  we  think  it  very  probable  that  the  word  might 
originally  have  fome  fuch  import  ;  and  if  it  was  not  immediately 
derived  from  the  verb  in  the  fenfe  of  purifying,  it  might  at 
leaft  have  a  collateral  relation  to  it.  There  is  no  doubt  but  facrifices 
were  obferved  at  the  inftltution  of  human  covenants,  or  compa6ls  ; 
as  an  appeal  to  heaven  for  \hz  purity  and  fincerity  of  the  parties? 
who  formed  them.  Nor  can  there  be  any  doubt,  but  that  in  the 
facrifices  with  which  the  covenant  of  grace  was  ratified  with  Abra- 
ham and  others  (of  which  hereafter)  the  offerer  looked  forward 
to  that  great  facrifice  which  was  to  purify  irora.  fin.  In  this  view 
God^s  cavenant  m\^.\X.  very  properly  fignify  \.\it  covenant  of  grace, 
not  only  as  fealed  by  typical  purifications,  but  as  the  conditions  of 
it  were  fulfilled  by  that  pure  and  fpotlefs  atonement,  which  cleanfes 
from  all  fin. 

[But  fee  Dr.  Sharp's,  Mr.  Bedford's,  and  Mr.  Moody's 
Differtations  on  this  word  ;  alfo  Mr.  Catcott's  Sermon  on  the 
Elahim ;  and  Mr.  Romaine's  new  edition  of  Calafio's  Heb. 
Concordance.]  [G.  E.J 

(  p )  /  ivill  efiahVifli  my  covenant.']  As  our  author  has  here  omit- 
ted a  circumllance  of  fome  importance,  and  clofely  connefted  with 
the  Hiftory  of  Redemption,  namely,  Noah^s  Prophecy,  we  fliall 
take  the  liberty  to  fupply  it  from  Bp.  Newton's  excellent  dif- 
fertcition  on  this  fubjetft. 

"  It  is  an  excellent  charaftcr  that  is  given  of  Noah,,  [Gen.  vi. 
9.]  '  Noah  was  a  jufl  man,  and  perfeft  in  his  generations,  and 
'  Noah  walked  with  God.'  But  the  bell  of  men  are  not  without 
their  infirmities ;  and  Noah  [Gen.  ix.  20,  &c.j  having  '  planted 
'  a  vineyaid,  and  drank  of  the  wine,'  became  inebriated,  not 
knowing,  perhaps,  the  nature  and  ftrength  of  the  liquor,  or  being 
through  age  incapable  of  bearing  it  ;  and  Mofes  is  fo  faithful  an 
hiflorian,  that  he  records  the  failings  and  imperfections  of  the 
moft  venerable  patriarchs,  as  well  as  their  merits  and  virtues. 
Noaa  in  this  condition  lay  '  uncovered  within  his  tent :  and  Ham, 
*  tlie  father  of  Canaan,  faw  the  nakednefs  of  his  father;'  and  in- 
llead  of  concealing  his  weaknefs,  as  a  good-natured  man,  or,  at 
leaft,  a  dutiful  fon,  would  have  done,  he  cruelly  expofed  it  to  his 
two  brethren  without  :  but  Shem  and  Japheth,  more  compafiion- 
ate  to  the  infirmities  of  their  aged  father,  took  a  garment,  and 
went  backward  with  fuch  decency  and  rrfpeft,  that  they  faw  not 
the  mikednefs  of  their  father  at  the  fame  time  that  they  covered 
it.  When  Noah  invoke  from  his  wine,  he  was  informed  of  what 
his  yp'.inger  fon  bad  done  unto  ln'm.  The  word  in  the  original 
fignifies  hits  liltle  fon :  and  fome  commentators,  therefore,  on  ac- 
count 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.    1 1 1 

a  covenant  already  in  being,  that  had  been  made,  and  that 
Noah  would  by  that  denomination  underftand  what  cove- 
nant it  was,  viz.  the  covenant  of  grace. 

5.  God's 

count  of  what  follows,  have  imagined  that  Canaan  joined  with  his 
father  Ham  in  this  mockery  and  infult  upon  Noah  ;  and  the  Jewifh 
rabbins  have  a  tradition,  that  Canaan  was  the  firfl  who  faw  Noah 
in  this  poftiirB,  and  then  went  and  called  his  father  Ham,  and  con- 
curred with  him  in  ridiculing  and  expofing  the  old  man.  But  this 
is  a  verj'  arbitrary  method  of  interpretation  ;  no  mention  was 
made  before  of  Canaan  and  of  what  he  had  done,  but  only  of 
Ham  the  father  of  Canaan  ;  and  of  him  therefore  mufl  the  phrafe 
of  little  fon  or yomigejl  fon  be  naturally  or  neceffarily  underflood. 

"  In  confequence  of  this  different  behaviour  of  the  three  fons, 
Noah,  as  a  patriarch,  was  enlightened,  and  as  the  father  of  a  fa- 
mily, who  is  to  reward  or  punifh  his  children,  was  Impoiuered  to 
foretel  the  different  fortunes  of  their  families  ;  for  this  prophecy 
relates  not  fo  much  to  themfelves,  as  to  their  pofterity,  the  people 
and  nations  defcended  from  them.  He  was  not  prompted  by  wine 
or  refentment ;  for  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  could  infufe  the 
knowledge  of  futurity,  or  infpire  him  with  the  prefcience  of  events, 
which  happened  hundreds,  nay  thoufands  of  years  afterwards  : 
but  God,  willing  tomanifeil  his  fuperintendance  and  government 
of  the  world,  indued  Noah  with  the  fpirit  of  prophecy,  and  ena- 
bled him  in  fome  meafure  to  dildofe  the  purpofes  of  his  provi- 
dence towards  the  future  race  of  mankind.  At  the  fame  time  it 
was  fome  comfort  and  reward  to  Shem  and  Japheth,  for  their  re- 
verence and  tendernefs  to  their  father,  to  hear  of  the  blcfling  and 
enlargement  of  their  pofleiity  ;  and  it  was  fome  mortification  and 
puiiilhment  to  Ham,  for  his  mockery  and  cruelty  to  his  father,  to 
hear  of  the  malcdiAion  and  fervitude  of  fome  of  his  children,  and 
that  as  he  was  a  wicked  fon  himfelf,  fo  a  wicked  race  fhould  fpring 
from  him. 

"  This,  then,  was  Noah's  prophecy  :  and  it  was  delivered,  as 
moR  of  the  ancient  prophecies  were  delivered,  [^Lotufh's  Prelec- 
tion, xviii.]  in  metre,  for  the  help  of  the  memory.  [Gen.  ix.  25, 
26,  .27.] 

*  Curfed  be  Canaan. 

'  A  fervant  of  fervants  fliall  he  be  unto  his  brethren. 

*  BlcfTcd  be  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Shem; 
'  And  Canaan  (hall  be  their  fervant. 

'  God  (liall  enlarge  Japheth, 

*  And  fhall  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem  ; 

*  And  Canaan  fliall  be  their  fervant.' 

Canaan  was  the  fourth  fon  of  Ham,  according  to  the  order  where- 
in they  are  mentioned  in  the  enfuing  chapter.  And  for  what  rea- 
fon  can  you  believe  that  Canaan  was  fo  particularly  marked  out 

q^  for 


112         HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

5.   God's  diiappointing  the  defign  of  building  the  city 
and  tower   ot   Babel   belongs   alio   to   the  great  work  of 

redemption. 

for  tlie  curfe,  for  his  father  Ham's  trangreffion  ?  But  where 
would  be  the  juftice  or  equity  to  pafs  by  Ham  himfelf,  with  the 
reft  of  his  childien,  and  to  punifh  only  Canaan  for  what  Ham  had 
committed  ?  Such  arbitrary  proceedings  are  contrary  to  all  our 
ideas  of  the  divine  perfections  ;  and  we  may  fay  in  this  cafe  what 
was  faid  in  another,  [Gen.  xviii.  25.3  *  Shall  not  the  judge  of  all 
'  the  earth  do  right  ?'  The  curfe  was  fo  far  from  being  pro- 
nounced upon  Canaan  for  his  father  Ham's  tranfgreflion,  that  we 
do  not  read  that  it  was  pronounced  for  his  own,  nor  was  executed 
till  feveral  hundred  years  after  his  death.  The  truth  is,  the  curfe 
is  to  be  underftood  not  fo  properly  of  Canaan,  as  of  his  defcen- 
dents  to  the  latell  generations.  It  is  thinking  meanly  of  the  an- 
cient prophecies  of  fcripture,  and  having  very  imperfcft,  very  un- 
worthy conceptions  of  them,  to  limit  their  intention  to  particular 

perfons We  muft  affix  a  larger  meaning  to  them,  and 

undcrftand  them  not  of  fmgle  perfons,  but  of  whole  nations  ;  and 
thereby  a  nobler  fcene  of  things,  and  a  more  extenfive  profpeft, 
will  be  opened  to  us  of  the  divine  difpenfations.  The  curfe  of 
fcrvitude  pronounced  upon  Canaan,  and  fo  likewife  thepromife  of 
bleffing  and  enlargement  made  to  Shem  and  Japheth,  are  by  no 
means  to  be  confined  to  their  own  perfons,  but  extend  to  their 
whole  race  ....  The  curfe,  therefore,  upon  Canaan  was  pro- 
perly a  curfe  upon  the  Canaanites.  God  forefeeing  the  wickednefs 
of  this  people,  (which  began  in  their  father  Ham,  and  greatly  in- 
creafed  in  this  branch  of  his  family)  commiflioned  Noah  to  pro- 
nounce a  curfe  upon  them,  and  to  devote  thjm  to  the  fervitude 
and  mifcry  which  their  more  common  vices  and  iniquities  would 
deferve.  And  this  account  was  plainly  written  by  Mofes,  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  Ifraelites,  to  fupport  and  animate  them  in 
their  expedition  againll  a  people,  who  by  their  fins  had  forfeited 
the  divine  protection,  and  were  deftined  to  flavery  from  the  days 
of  Noah. 

"  We  fee  the  purport  and  meaning  of  the  prophecy,  and  now 
let  us  attend  to  the  completion  of  it.  ♦  Curfed  .be  Canaan  ;'  and 
the  Canaanites  appear  to  have  been  an  abominably  wicked  people. 
The  fin  and  punifliment  of  the  inhabitants  of  Sodom  and  Gomor- 
rah, and  the  cities  of  the  plain,  are  too  well  known  to  be  particu- 
larly fpecified  ;  and  for  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  land,  which 
was  promifed  to  Abraham  and  his  feed,  God  bore  with  them  '  till 

*  their  iniquity  was  full.'  [Gen.  xv.  16.]  They  were  not  only 
addicted  to  idolatry,  which  was  then  the  cafe  of  the  greater  part 
of  the  world,  but  were  guilty  of  the  worft  fort  of  idolatry  ;  '  for 

*  every   abomination   to    the  Lord,  which  he   hateth,  have  they 

*  done  unto  their  gods  ;  for  even  their  fons  and  their  daughters 
*.  they  have  burnt  in  the  fire  to  their  Gods.'  [Deut.  xii.  31.]  And 

was 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.    1 1 3 

redemption.  For  that  was  undertaken  in  oppofition  to 
this  great  bxiilding  of  God   which   we   are    fpeaking   of. 

Men's 

was  it  not  a  curfe  in  the  nature  of  things,  as  well  as  in  the  juft 
judgment  of  God,  defervedly  entailed  upon  fuch  a  people  and 
nation  as  this  ?  It  was  not  *  for  their  own  righteoufncfs  that  the 
'  Lord  brought  the  Ifraelites  in  to  poffefs  the  land  ;  but  for  the 

*  wickednefs  of  thefe  nations  did  the  Lord  drive  them  out:'  [Deut. 
ix.  4.]  and  he  would  have  driven  out  the  Ifraelites  in  like  man- 
ner for  the  very  fame  abominations.   l^Sce  Lev.  xviii.  25,  &c.] 

"  But  the  curfe  particularly   implies  fervitude  and  fubjeftion, 

*  Curfed  be  Canaan  ;  a  fervant  of  fervants  fliall  he  be  unto  his 
'  brethren.'  It  is  very  well  known  that  the  word  brethren  in 
Hebrew  comprehends  more  dillant  relations.  The  defcendents 
therefore  of  Canaan  were  to  be  fubjedl  to  the  defcendents  of  both 
Shem  and  Japheth  :  and  the  natural  confequence  of  vice,  in  com- 
munities as  well  as  in  fingle  perfons,  is  flavery.  The  fame  thing 
i%  repeated   again   and  again   in   the  two  following  verfcs,  *  and 

*  Canaan  fhall  be  fervant  to  them,  or  their  fervant;'  fo  that  this 
is  as  it  were  the  burden  of  the  prophecy.  Some  critics  take 
the  phrafc  of  '  fervant  of  fervants'  ftrielly  and  literally,  and  fay 
that  the  prediftion  was  exaftly  fulfilled,  when  the  Canaanites 
became  fervants  to  the  Ifraelites,  who  had  been  fervants  to  tlie 
Egyptians.  But  this  is  refining  too  much  ;  the  phrafe  of  fervant 
of  fervants  is  of  the  fame  turn  and  caft  as  holy  of  holies,  king  of 
kings,  fong  of  fongs,  and  the  like  expreflions  in  fcripture  ;  and 
imports  that  they  flrould  be  the  loweft  and  bafeft  of  fervants. 

*'  It  was  feveral  centuries  after  the  delivery  of  this  prophecy, 
when  the  Ifraelites,  who  were  defcendents  of  Shem,  under  the 
command  of  Jolhua  invaded  the  Canaanites,  fmote  above  thirty  of 
their  kings,  took  poffeffion  of  their  land,  flew  feveral  of  the  in- 
habitants, made  the  Gibeonltes  and  others  fervants  and  tributaries, 
and  Solomon  afterwards  fubducd  the  reft.  [2.  Chron.viii.  7,  8,  9.] 
The  Greeks  and  Romans  too,  who  were  defcendents  of  Japheth, 
not  only  fubdued  Syria  and  PalelHne,  but  alfo  purfued  and  con- 
quered fuch  of  the  Canaanites  as  were  any  where  remaining,  as 
for  Inftance,  the  Tyrlans  and  Carthaginians,  the  former  of  whom 
were  ruined  by  Alexander  and  the  Grecians,  and  the  latter  by 
Scipio  and  the  Romans.  "  This  fate,"  fays  Mr.  Mede,  "  was 
it  that  made  Hanibal,  a  child  of  Canaan,  cry  out  with  amaze- 
ment of  his  fold,  ylgmfco  forlitnam  Carthaglnls,  I  acknowledge 
the  fortune  of  Carthage."  And  ever  fince  the  miferable  remain- 
der of  his  people  have  been  flaves  to  a  foreign  yoke,  firft  to  the 
Saracens,  who  defcended  from  Shem,  and  afterwards  to  the  Tuiks, 
who  defcended  from  Japheth  ;  and  they  groan  under  their  domi- 
nion at  this  day. 

"  Hitherto  wo  have  explained  the  prophecy  according  to  the 
prefent  copies  of  our  bible  :  but  if  v,'e  were  to  correct  the  text,  as. 

0^2  we 


114        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

Men's  going  about  to  build  fuch  a  city  and  tower  was  an 
effedl   of  the  corruption  that  mankind   were    now   again 

fallen 

we  fliould  any  ancient  clafilc  author  in  a  like  ca{e,  the  whole  per- 
haps might  be  made  eader  and  plainer.  Ham  the  father  of  Canaan 
is  mentioned  in  the  preceding  part  of  the  Itory  ;  and  how  then 
came  the  perfon  of  a  fudden  to  be  changed  into  Canaan  ?  The 
Arabic  verfion  in  thefe  three  verfes  hath  the  father  of  Canaan  in- 
flead  of  Canaan.  Some  copies  of  the  Septuagint  likewife  have 
Ham  inftead  of  Canaan,  as  if  Canaan  was  a  corruption  of  the 
text.  Vatablus  and  others  by  Canaan  underftand  the  father  of 
Canaan,  which  was  exprefied  twice  before.  And  if  we  regard 
the  metre,  this  line,  Curfed  be  Canaan,  is  much  Ihorter  than  the 
reft,  as  if  fomething  was  deficient.  May  we  not  luppofe  there- 
fore, (without  taking  fuch  liberties  as  Father  Houbigant  hath 
■with  the  Hebrew  text)  that  the  copyift  by  miftake  wrote  only 
Canaan,  inftead  of  Ham  the  father  of  Canaan,  and  that  the  whole 
paffage  was  originally  thus  ?  '  and  Ham  the  father  of  Canaan  faw 

*  the  nakednefs  of  his  father,  and  told  his  two  brethren  without. 
"  And  Noah  awoke  from  his  wine,  and  knew  what  his  younger 

*  fon  had  done  unto  him.     And  he  faid,  curfed  be  Ham  the  father, 

*  of  Canaan,  a  fervant  of  fervant3  ftiall  he  be  unto  his  brethren. 

*  And  he  faid,  BlelTed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Shem  ;  and  Ham  the 

*  father  of  Canaan  fliall  be  fervant  to  them.      God   ftiall   enlarge 

*  Japheth  ;  and  he  ftiall  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem  ;  and  Ham 
f  the  father  of  Canaan  ftiall  be  fervant  to  them.' 

"  By  this  reading  all  the  three  fons  of  Noah  are  included  in 
the  prophecy,  whereas  otherwife  Ham,  who  was  the  off'cnder,  is 
excluded,  or  is  only  puniftied  in  one  of  his  children.  Ham  is 
charafterlzed  as  the  father  of  Canaan  particularly,  for-the  greater 
encouragement  of  the  Ifraehtes,  who  were  going  to  invade  the 
land  of  Canaan  :  and  when  it  is  faid,  '  Curfed  be  Ham  the  father 
'  of  Canaan  ;  a  fervant  of  fervants  fliall  he  be  unto  his  brethren  ;' 
it  is  implied  that  his  whole  race  was  devoted  to  fervitude,  but  par- 
ticularly  the  Canaanites.  Not  that  this  was  to  take  effeft  immedi- 
ately, but  was  to  be  fulfilled  in  procefs  of  time,  when  they  ftiould 
forfeit  their  liberties  by  their  wickednefs.  Ham  at  firft  fubdued 
fome  of  the  pofterity  of  Shem,  as  Canaan  fometimes  conquered 
Japheth  ;  the  Carthaginians,  who  were  originally  Canaanites,  did 
particularly  in  Spain  and  Italy  :  but  in  time  they  were  to  be  fub- 
dued, and  to  become  fervants  to  Shein  and  Japheth  ;  and  the 
chanp-e  of  their  fortune  from  good  to  bad  would  render  the  curfe 
ftill  more  vifible.  Egypt  was  the  land  of  Ham,  as  it  is  often  cal- 
led in  fcripture  ;  and  for  many  years  it  was  a  great  and  flouriftiing 
kingdom  :  but  it  was  fubdued  by  the  Perfians,  who  deicendcd 
from  Shem,  and  aftervv-ards  by  the  Grecians,  who  dcfcendcd  froni 
Japheth  ;  and  from  that  time  to  this  it  hath  conftantly  been  in  fub- 
jedion  to  feme  or  other  of  the  pofterity  of  Shem  or  Japheih.    The 

whole 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.  115 

fallen  into.  This  city  and  tower  was  fet  up  in  oppo- 
lition  to  the  city  of  God,  as  the  god  that  they  built  it  to 

was 

whole  continent  of  Africa  was  peopled  principally  by  the  children 
of  Ham  ;  and  for  how  many  ages  have  the  better  parts  of  that 
country  laid  under  the  dominion  of  the  Romans,  and  then  of  the 
Saracens,  and  now  of  the  Turks  ?  In  what  wickednefs,  ignorance, 
barbarity,  flavcry,  mifery,  live  moft  of  the  inhabitants  ;  and  of 
the  poor  negroes  how  many  hundreds  every  year  are  fold  and 
bought  like  beads  in  the  market,  and  are  conveyed  from  one  quar- 
ter  of  the  world  to  do  the  work  of  beafts  in  another  ?" 

"  Nothing  can  be  more  complete  than  the  execution  of  the  fen- 
tence  upon  Ham  as  well  as  upon  Canaan  :  and  now  let  us  confider 
the  promifes  made  to  Shem  and  Japheth.     And  he  faid  (ver.  26.) 

*  Blefl'edbe  the  Lord  God  of  Shem  :  and  Canaan  {hall  be  his  fer- 

*  vant :'  or  rather,  '  and  Canaan  fliall  be  fervantto  them,  or  their 

*  fervant,'  that  is,  to  his  brethren  ;  for  that,  as  we  obferved  before, 
is  the  main  part  of  the  prophecy,  and  therefore  is  fo  frequently 
repeated.  A  learned  critic  in  the  Hebrew  language,  who  hath 
lately  publiflicd  fome  remarks  on  the  printed  Hebrew  text,  [Ken. 
p.  561.]  faitli,  that  "  if  it  fhould  be  thought  preferable  to  refer  the 
word  blejfcd  direftly  to  Shem,  as  the  word  ciirfcd  is  to  Canaan  ; 
the  words  may  be  {and  perhaps  more  pertinently)  rendered,   '  Blef- 

*  fed  of  Jehovah,  my  God,  be  Shem!'    [See  Gen.  xxiv.  31."] 

[So  Mr.  Hervey  (remarks  on  Lord  Bolingbroke,  p.  58.)  *'  I 
would  not  trandate  tlie  words,  *  Bleffed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Shem ;' 
but  '  bleffcd  of  the  Lord  God  is  Shem.'  (As  before  he  reads, 
not  *  curfcd  Zi^  Canaan,'  but  '  curfcd  w  Canaan.')  This  will  put 
a  ftriking  contrail  between  the  doom  of  the  religious  fcoflFer,  and 
the  reward  of  filial  piety This  fenfe  the  original  lan- 
guage will  very  commodioufly  bear,  and  the  event  feems  to  re- 
quire." We  would  juft  add  to  this  digrefiion,  that  the  interpi-e- 
tation  of  this  ingenious  writer  nearly  coincides  with  that  of  his 
Lordfhip,  above  cited,  except  in  his  correftion  of  the  original 
text.] 

"  Or  if  we  choofe  (as  mofl:  perhaps  will  choofe)  to  follow  our 
own  as  well  as  all  the  ancient  verfions,  we  may  obferve,  that  the 
old  patriarch  doth  not  fay,  V>\t{XcA.hQ  Shem,  as  he  faid,  Curfed  be 
Canaan  ;  for  mens'  evil  fpringcth  of  themfelves,  but  their  good 
from  God :  and  therefore  in  a  llrain  of  devotion  breaking  forth 
into  thankfgiving  to  God  as  the  author  of  all  good  to  Shem  :  nei- 
ther doth  he  fay  the  fame  to  Japheth  :  for  God  certainly  may  dlf- 
penfe  his  particular  favours  according  to  his  good  pleafure,  and 
falvation  was  to  be  derived  to  mankind  through  Shem  and  his  pof- 
terity.  God  prefers  Shem  to  his  elder  brother  Japheth,  as  Jacob 
was  afterwards  preferred  to  Efau,  and  David  to  iiis  elder  brothers, 
to  (how  that  the  order  of  grace  is  not  always  the  fame  as  the  order 
of  nature.     The  Lord  being  called  the  God  of  Shem  particularly, 

it 


ii6         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

was  their  pride.     Being  funk  into  a  dil'pofition  to   forfake 
the   true  God,    the  lirft   idol   they  fet   up    in   his   room, 


was 


It  IS  plainly  intimated  that  the  Lord  would  be  his  God  in  a  parti- 
cular manner.  And  accordingly  the  church  of  God  was  among 
the  pofterity  of  Shem  for  feveral  generations  ;  and  of  them  [Rom. 
ix.  5.]    '  As  concerning  the  flefli  Chrift  came.' 

"  But  ftill  Japheth  was  not  difmiffed  without  a  promife,  (ver. 
47.)  '  God  ihall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  he  fhall  dwell  in  the  tents  of 
*  Shem  ;  and  Canaan  fhall  be  fervant  to  them,  or  their  fervant.' 
God  fliall  enlarge  Japheth.  Some  render  the  word,  (it  is  fo  ren- 
dered in  the  margin  of  our  bibles)  God  fhall  pcrjuade  or  allure 
Japheth,  fo  that  he  fhall  come  over  to  the  true  religion,  and  dwell 
in  the  tents  of  Shem.  Bat  the  belt  critics  in  the  language  have 
remarked,  befides  other  reafons,  that  they  who  tranflate  the  word 
by  perfuade  or  allure,  did  not  confider,  that  when  it  is  fo  taken,  it* 
is  ufed  in  a  bad  fenfe,  and  governs  an  accufative  cafe,  and  not  a 
dative,  as  in  this  place.  God  fhall  enlarge  Japheth,  or  unto  Ja-' 
pheth,  is  the  beft  rendering  ;  and  in  the  original  there  is  a  mahifeft 
allufion  to  Japheth's  name,  fuch  as  is  familiar  to  the  Hebrew  wa- 
ters. As  it  was  faid  of  Noah,  [Gen.  v.  29.]  this  fame  fhall  com- 
fort us,  the  name  of  Noah  being  thought  to  fgnify  comfort:  So 
it  is  faid  here  God  fhall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  the  name  of  Japheth 
fignifies  enlargement.  Was  Japheth  then  more  enlarged  than 
the  reft  ?  Yes,  he  was,  both  in  territory  and  children  :  the  terri- 
tories of  Japheth's  pofterity  were  indeed  very  large  ;  for,  befides 
all  Europe,  great  and  extenfive  ^as  it  is,  they  poflefled  the  Lefler 
Afia,  Media,  and  part  of  Armenia,  Iberia,  Albania,  and  thofe 
vaft  rep-ions  towards  the  north,  which  anciently  the  Scythians  in- 
habited, and  now  the  Tartars  inhabit  ;  and  it  is  not  improbable, 
that  the  new  world  was  peopled  by  fome  of  his  northern  defcen- 
dents  palling  thither  by  the  ftraits  of  Anian.  The  enlargement 
of  Japheth  may  alfo  denote  a  numerous  progeny  as  well  as  ample 
territory  :  and  if  you  confult  the  genealogies  of  the  three  brothers 
comprifed  in  the  following  chapter,  you  will  find  that  Japheth  had 
feven  fons,  whereas  Ham  had  only  four,  arid  Shem  only  five  :  and 
the  northern  hive  (as  Sir  William  Temple  denominates  it)  was 
always  remarkable  for  its  fecundity,  a.id  hath  been  continually 
pouring  forth  fwarms,  and  fending  out  colonies  into  the  more 
fouthern  parts,  both  in  Enrope  and  in  Afia,  both  in  former  and 
in  later  times. 

"  The  following  claufe,  '  and  he  fliall  du-el1  in  the  tents  of 
«  Shem,'  is  capable  of  a  double  conftru6tion  ;  for  thereby  may  be 
meant  either  that  God  or  that  ^  Japheth  ^^^■:^\  dwell  in  the  tents 
'  of  Shem  :'  in  the  tents  of  Shem,  faith  he,  fpeaking  according  to 
the  fimplicity  of  thofe  times,  when  men  dwelt  in  tents  and  not  in 
houfes.  They  who  prefer  the  former  conllruftion,  feem  to  have  the 
authority  of  the  original  test  on  their  fide  ;  for  there  is  no  other 

noun 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.  117 

was  themfelves,  their  own  glory  and  fame.  And  as  this 
city  and  tower  had  its  foundation  laid  in  the  pride  and  va- 
nity of  men  ;  fo  it  was  built  on  a  foundation  exceedingly 
contrary  to  the  nature  of  the  foundation  of  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift,  and  his  redeemed  city,  which  has  its  foundation 
•laid  in  humility. 

Therefore  God  faw  that  it  tended  to  fruftrate  the  de- 
fign  of  that  great  building  which  was  founded,  not  in  the 
haughtinefs  of  men  but  in  the  purpofes  of  God:  thus  the 
thing  that  they  did  difpleafed  the  Lord,  and  he  confounded 
the  defign,  net  fuffering  them  fo  bring  it  to  perfeclion  ;  as 
he  will  fruftrate  all  other  defigns  fet  up  in  oppolition  to  the 
great  building  of  the  work  of  redemption. 

In 

noun  to  govern  the  verbs  in  the  period,  but  God  ;  there  is  no  pro- 
noun in  the  Hebrew,  anfwcring  to  the  he  which  is  inferted  in  our 
Englifh  tranflation  :  and  the  whole  fentence  would  run  thus,  '  God 
will  enlarge  Japheth,  and  will  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem  :'  and 
the  Chaldee  of  Onkelos  alfo  thus  paraphrafeth  it,  '  and  v/ill  make 

*  his  glory  to  dwell  in  the  tabernacles  of  Shem.'  Thofe  who  pre- 
fer the  latter  conftruftion,  feem  to  have  done  it,  that  they  might 
refer  this  27th  verfe  wholly  to  Japheth,  as  they  refer  the  26th 
wholly  to  Shem  ;  but  the  other  appears  to  me  the  more  natural 
and  eafy  conftrucftion.  Taken  in  either  fenfe,  the  prophecy  hath 
been  moft  punftually  fulfilled.  In  the  former  fenfe  it  was  fullilled 
literally,  when  the  Shechinah,  or  divine  prefence,  refted  in  the 
ark,  and  dwelt  in  the  tabernacle  and  temple  of  the  Jews  ;  and 
when  *  the  Word  who  was  with  God  and  was  God,  [John  1.    i. 

*  £o-x»iw«rev,]  pitched  his  tent,  and  dwelt  among  us.'  [ver.  14.]  Li 
the  latter  fenfe  it  was  fulfilled  firft,  when  the  Greeks  and  Romans, 
who  fprung  originally  from  Japheth,  fubdued  and  poflefied  Judea, 
and  other  countries  of  Afia,  belonging  to  Shem  ;  and  again  fpi- 
ritually,  when  they  were  profelyted  to  the  true  religion,  and  they 
who  were  not  Ifraelites  by  birth,  became  Ifraelltes  by  faith,  and 
lived,  as  we  and  many  other  of  Japheth's  pofterity  do  at  this  day, 
within  the  pale  of  the  church  of  Chrift. 

"  What  think  you  now  ?  Is  not  this  a  moft  extraordinary  pro- 
phecy \  A  prophecy  that  was  delivered  near  four  thoufand  years 
ago,  and  yet  hath  been  fulfilling  through  the  feveral  periods  of 
time  to  this  day  !    It  is  both  wonderful  and  inilruftive.      It  is  the 

hiftory  of  the  world  as  it  were  in  epitome." [Differt.  on  the 

Prophecies,  vol.  i.  Dif.  1.3 

[The  laft  remark  vvfill,  we  hope,  fulBciently  apologize  for  the 
length  of  this  quotation.]  [G.  E.] 


iiS        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

In  liie  fecond  chapter  of  Ifaiali,  where  the  prophet  is 
ilcfcribing  God's  fttting  up  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  in  the 
world,  he  foretells  that  he  will,  in  order  to  it,  bring 
down  the  haughtinefs  of  men,  and  how  the  day  of  the 
Lord  fliall  be  on  every  high  tower,  and  upon  every 
fenced  wall,  6cc.  Chrift's  kingdom  is  eftabliflied  by 
bringing  down  every  high  thing  to  make  way  for  it, 
[2  Cor.  X.  4,   5.]  '  For  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  are 

*  mighty   through   God    to    the   pulling    down    of  flrong 

*  holds,  cafting  down  imaginations,   and  every  high  thing 

*  that  exalreth  itfelf  againft  the  knowledge  of  God.' 
What  is  done  in  a  particiilar  foul,  to  make  way  for  the 
fetting  up  of  Chrift's  kingdom,  is  to  dcftroy  Babel  in  that 
foul. 

They  intended  to  have  built  Babel  up  to  heaven.  That 
building  which  is  the  fubjedl  we  are  now  upon,  is  intend- 
ed to  be  built  fo  high,  that  its  top  fliall  reach  to  heaven 
indeed,  as  it  will  to  the  higheft  heavens  at  the  end  of  the 
world,  when  it  fliall  be  finiihed  :  and  therefore  God  would 
not  fuffer  the  building  of  his  enemies,  that  they  defigned 
to  build  up  to  heaven  in  oppofition  to  it,  to  profper.  (q^) 
If  they  had  gone  on  and  profpered  in  building  that  city 
and  tower,  it  might  have  kept  the  world  of  wicked  men, 
the  enemies  of  the  church,  together,  as  was  their  defign. 
They  might  have  remained  united  in  one  vaft,  powerful 
city,  and  fo  have  been  too  powerful  for  the  city  of  God, 
and  quite  fwallowed  it  up. 

This  city  of  Babel  is  the  fame  with  the  city  of  Baby- 
lon ,-  for  Babylon  in  the  original  is  Babel:  but  Babylon 
was  a  city  that  is  always  fpoken  of  in  fcripture  as  chiefly 
oppofite  to  the  city  of  God.  Babylon  and  Jerufalem, 
or  Zion,  are  often  oppofcd  to  each  other,  both  in  the 
Old  and   New  Teftament.     This  city  was  a  powerful  and 

terrible 

(  Q^)  God fritjlrated  their  defign  m  lu'illing  Babe  L.J  Their  dc' 
Jign  and  tl)e  inetliod  in  which  God  frujlrated  it  are  two  very  im- 
portant lubjcfts  of  inquiry,  and  for  brevity  fake  we  fliall  coniider 
them  in  connedlion  ;  firll  flating  the  principal  hypoihefts  of  the 
learned,  and  then,  comparing  them  with  the  fcripture  account,  at- 
tempt to  tlirow  fome  new  light  on  this  very  compHcated  fubjed. 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.    1 19 

terrible  enemy  to  the  city  of  God  afterwards,  notwith- 
ftanding  this  great  check   put  to  the  building  of  it  in   the 

beo;in^ 

We  have  not  only  the  authority  of  Mofes  for  the  exiftence  of 
this  tower,  but  (which  unhappily  is  of  more  weight  with  fome) 
the  concurrent  teftimonies  of  fevcral  heathen  writers,  particularly 
Herodotus,  who  dcfcribes  the  remains  of  it  in  his  time;  and  even 
fome  modern  travellers,  as  RauivoJf  and  Delia  Valle,  have  feen  im- 
menfe  heaps  of  ruins  which  they  conceived  to  be  thofe  of  Babel, 
though  they  are  not  well  agreed  in  its  fituation.  [See  Univ.  Hilt, 
vol.  i.  p.  334—337.] 

It  is  however  not  fo  evident,  what  induced  '  the  children  of  men' 
to  ereft  this  edifice.  Mofes  has  indeed  mentioned  their  motive, 
but  then  the  learned  are  not  well  agreed  as  to  the  import  of  his,  or 
ratheir  of /i'c'/r  words ;   [Gen.  xi.  4.]   *  And  they  faid,   Go  to,  let 

*  us  build  a  city  and  a  tower  whofe  top  may  reach  unto  heaven, 

*  \j.  £.  very  high]  and  let  us  make  us  a  name,  left  we  be  fcattered 

*  abroad  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth.'  But  how  fliould  the 
making  them  a  name  prevent  their  being  fcattered?  The  anfwer  to 
this  is  not,  perhaps,  fo  difficult  as  fome  have  thought.  The  ereftion 
of  a  city  and  a  tower,  and  forming  themfelves  into  a  compadi  body, 
a  powerful  corporation,  as  we  fhould  fay,  was  the  moft  natural 
means  to  preferve  themfelves  together,  as  well  as  to  perpetuate 
their  memory  to  pofterlty.  Nor  is  this  all;  their  making  them- 
felves a  name,  impUes  the  atchievement  of  fomething  deferving  one; 
and  certainly  the  more  firm,  powerful,  and  great  they  were,  the 
lefs  danger  remained  of  their  being  fcattered.  Not  to  fa)--,  that  in 
fuch  a  body,  men  might  enjoy  many  conveniences  and  advantages, 
which  a  ftate  of  folitary  v.'andering  would  not  admit. 

Some  learned  men,  however,  not  aware  of  this,  or  not  feeing  it 
in  the  fame  point  of  view,  have,  to  avoid  the  difficulty,  rendered  the 
words  in  a  different  manner.  Dr.  G.  Sharp  [Origin  of  Lang, 
p.  29.]  takes  the  word  [iZDIi']  for  a  particle  of  place,  and  tranflateg 
it — '  Let  us  prepare — iLwi-h,  i^c.  for  ourfelves  there;'  and  it  can- 
not be  denied  that  the  words  (without  regarding  the  vowel  points) 
may  befo  tranflated;  but  then,  as  the  phrafe  to  make  onefelf  a  name 
is  perfeftly  fcriptural  [fee  2  Sam.  viii.  13. — If.  Ixiii.  12,  14. — Jer. 
xxxii.  20. — Dan.  ix.  15.]  and  familiar,  and  we  hope  has  been  ex- 
plained in  a  rational  and  intelligible  fenfe,  there  feems  to  be  no 
iieceffity  for  departing  from  it. 

Some  critics,  perticularly  Dr.  Tennison  and  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son, from  the  circumilance  of  the  tower  being  in  after  times  ufed 
for  idolatrous  purpofes,  have  conceived  that  fuch  was  its  original 
deiign  ;  and  therefore  have  fuppofcd  this  word  to  be  the  name 
;)f  the  idol  to  which  it  was  eredfted  :  but  as  this  is  mere  conjecture, 
little  ftrefs  can  be  laid  on  it.  Nor  does  the  erection  of  an  iilol  give 
any  reafon  why  tlicy  H^ould  not  be  fcattered.     This,  however,  is  a 

R  verv 


120  HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

beginmng.  But  it  might,  and  probably  would  have  been 
vaftly  more  powerful,  and  able  to  vex  and  deftroy  the 
cliurch  of  God,  if  it  had  not  been  thus  checked. 

Thus 

very  ancient  tradition,  being  found  in  the  Targums  both  of  Jona- 
than and  Jerufalem,  befides  a  Samaritan  one;  and  if  it  could  be 
proved  to  be  well  founded,  would  perfeftly  agree  with  the  expofi- 
tion  above  given,  and  give  the  cleared  reafon  of  the  divine  inter- 
polition,  which  is  the  next  circumftance  to  be  confidered. 

'  And  the  Lord  came  down  to  fee  the  city  and  the  tower  which 

*  the  children  of  men  builded.    And  the  Lord  faid  [or  '  had  faid'] 

*  Behold,  the  people  is  one,  [united  in  one  defign]  and  they  have 
'  all  one  language  ;  and  tliis  they  begin  to  do  ;  and  now  nothing 

*  will  be  reftrained  from  them,  which  they  have  imagined  to  do,* 
that  is,  without  a  divine  interference.      '  Go  to,  let  us  go  down 

*  [Comp.  Gen.  i.  26.]   and  there  confoumi  their  /anguage,  that  they 

*  may  not  underftand  one  another's  fpeech.  So  the  Lord  fcattered 
'  them  abroad  from  thence  upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth;  and  they 

*  left  off  to  build  the  city,  and  [as  the  Samaritan  adds]  the  tower. 

*  Therefore  is  the  name  of  it  called  Bale/,  [i.  e.  ConfufionJ  becaufe 
'  the  Lord  did  there  confound  the  language  of  all  the  earth.' 

The  common  hypothefis  fuppofes  that,  on  this  occafion,  God 
caufed  the  builders  to  forget  their  former  language,  and  each  fa- 
mily to  fpeak  a  new  tongue,  whence  originated  the  various  lan- 
guages at  prefent  in  the  world.      [See  Gill  in  loc] 

To  this,  however,  it  has  been  objeAed,  that  to  confound  a  lan- 
guage, and  to  form  new  ones,  are  very  diftinft  and  different  ideas* 
Nor  is  there  any  fimilar  phrafeology  to  countenance  this  in  other 
parts  of  fcripture. 

Mr.  Hutchinson,  who  feems  to  have  been  fond  of  novel  and 
iingular  ideas,  will  have  the  univerfality  of  language,  or  rather 
Up,  as  the  Hebrew  is,  to  denote  a  univerfality  of  religion  and  re- 
ligious rites,  and  that  the  variety  afterward  introduced  was  not  of 
tongues,  but  of  religious  principles  and  confejfions;  but  this,  befide 
that  it  wants  fupport,  has  the  misfortune  to  intimate,  that  God 
was  the  author  of  the  different  religions  extant,  the  falfe  as  well  as 
the  true — which  be  far  from  the  Molt  High! 

Dr.  G.  Sharp,  unfatisfted  with  either  of  thefe  explications, 
conceives,  that  neither  a  divifion  of  tongues  or  religions  is  intended; 
but  only  that  in  fome  vifible  and  extraordinary  manner  the  Deity 
came  down  to  earth,  and  confounded  their  purpofes,  fcattering 
thern  over  the  face  of  the  earth;  and  that  the  different  languages 
were  rather  the  effcEl,  than  the  caufe^  of  this  difperfion.  [See 
Origin  of  Lang.  p.  24 — 30.] 

A  full  inveftigation  of  this  fubjedl  would  lead  us  back  to  the 
origin  of  the  firft  langu;ige,  and  to  a  variety  of  inquiries,  which 

would 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.  121 

Thus  it  was  in  kindiiefs  to  his  church  in  the  world, 
and  in  profecution  of  the  great  defign  of  redemption,  that 

God 

would  fwell  this  note  to  a  vohime;  but  we  wifli  to  be  as  concife  as 
poflible,  and  fhall  therefore  only  drop  hints  to  be  puifued  and  im- 
proved by  the  refleftions  of  our  readers. 

And,  I.  It  appears  that  God  not  only  created  man  with  a  capa- 
city of  fpeech,  and  acquainted  him  with  his  powers;  but  calle4 
them  into  exercife  by  bringing  the  animals  to  him,  that  he  might 
name  them. 

2.  Yet,  that  there  is  no  neceflity  for  fuppofing  that  God  fur- 
niflied  our  firft  parent  miraculoufly  with  all  the  words  he  had  oc- 
cafion  for,  at  once;  a  thoufand  circumftances  would  daily  occur 
for  giving  him  opportunity  and  occafion,  to  enlarge  his  llock  of 
words,  as  his  ideas  increafed. 

3.  We  conceive,  that  while  mankind  continued  to  refide  in  one 
climate,  and  to  have  communication  together,  there  would  be 
little  dlverfity  in  their  language,  and  this  was  probably  the  cafe 
before  the  flood,  and  for  fome  time  afterwards,  till  the  period  we 
are  now  confidering. 

4.  Though  we  fhould  not  be  able  exaftly  to  afcertain  the  mo- 
tives on  which  this  building  was  erefted  ;  yet,  as  we  find  it  offen- 
live  to  God,  it  was  certainly  finful;  if  not  in  the  a8  itfelf,  at 
leafl  in  the  moiive,  which,  doubtlefs,  originated  in  vanity  and 
ambition. 

5.  From  the  expreflion  '  the  Lord  came  down,'  it  fliould  feem 
there  was  fome  vifible  appearance  of  the  divine  Majefty;  the  ear- 
lieft  heathen  writers  who  mention  this  event,  unanimoufly  afcribe 
the  deftruftion  of  Babel  to  the  winds,  and  as  the  Lord  *  rides 
*  upon  the  whirlwind,'  there  feems  no  abfurdity  in  fuppofing  that 
the  tempeft  which  attended  his  prefence,  might  overthrow  it,  and 
thus  eonfound  and  terrify  the  builders. 

6.  But  as  the  language  was  confounded,  it  does  not  fcem  fuffi- 
clent  to  confine  the  text  to  this:  may  v/e  not  therefore  fuppofe, 
that  God  afFetlied  the  organs  of  their  fpeech  in  fome  fuch  extraor- 
dinary manner,  as  to  render  certain  founds  extremely  difficult  (if 
not  impoffible)  to  certain  perfons,  and  confequently  to  occafion 
a  material  difference  in  pronunciation  ?  As  we  fee  to  this  day,  ho\v 
feldora  foreigners  can  attain  the  true  found  of  TH — how  vari^- 
oufly,  even  in  England,  (as  formerly  in  Judea)  different  countries 
pronounce  the  fame  letter.  And  this,  taken  in  connexion  with 
the  terror  occafioned  by  the  divine  prefence,  was,  certainly,  abun- 
dantly fuflicient  to  create  a  raifunderltanding,  and  make  thefe 
builders  defilt  from  their  enterprize.  [See  Slackhcitfi'i  Hlft.  of 
the  Bible,  vol.  i.  b.  2.] 

7.  That  after  the  dlfperfion,  this  difference  would  naturally 
incrcafe — that  accident  would  invent  many,  neccITity  perhaps  more, 

R  z  new" 


122  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

God  put  a  flop  to  the  building  of  the  city  and  tower  of 
Babel. 

6.  The  difperfion  of  the  nations,  and  dividing  the 
earth  among  its  inhabitants,  immediately  after  God  had 
caufcd  the  building  of  Babel  to  ceafe.  This  was  done  fo 
^s  moft  to  fuit  that  great  defign  of  redemption;  and  parti- 
cularly, God  therein  had  an  eye  to  the  future  propaga- 
tion of  the  gofpel  among  the  nations.  [Deut.  xxxii.  8-] 
'   When  the  Moit  High  divided  to  the  nations  their  inhe- 

*  ritance,  when  he  feparated  the  fons  of  Adam,  he  fet  the 
'  bounds  of  the   people  according  to  the   number  of  the 

*  children  of  Ifrael.'   (r)      '  And  hath  made  of  one  blood 

'  all 

new  words;  and  the  learned  and  ingenious  modify  them  to  their 
own  tafte:  and  we  (hould  not  defpair  being  able  to  fiiew,  did  the 
occafion  fuit,  the  poffibility  of  all  languages  being  in  this  manner 
derived  from  one  original. 

8.  The  inquiry,  whether  among  all  thefe  changes  any  one  na- 
tion preferved  the  primitive  dialeft,  is  more  curious  than  ufcful, 
and  chiefly  depends  on  one  circumftance,  whether  Shem  and  his 
family  had  any  concern  in  building  of  Babel,  a  circumllance  that 
is  not  eafily  demonftrated  either  way.  Tlie  learned  authors  of 
the  Univerfal  Hiftory  think  nothing  can  be  plainer,  than  that  he 
was  confederated  with  the  reft  of  mankind.  [Vol.  i.  p.  327, 
&c.] 

But  Dr.  Gill,  [in  loc]  and  the  Jewifli  expofitors  in  general, 
will  by  no  means  admit  this ;  but  fuppofe  the  phrafe-  children  of 
men,  muft  be  here  taken,  as  a  fimilar  one  in  a  preceding  chapter, 
[vi.  4].  for  the  reft  of  the  world,  exclufive  of  God's  people.  If 
this  notion  be  right,  (as  we  think  it  might  be  juftified)  in  all  pro- 
bability the  original  language  might  be  preferved  in  the  family  of 
Shem,  and  be  eflentially  the  fame  which  was  afterward  denomi- 
nated Hebrew.  But  this  controverfy  we  mull:  wave.  [G.  E.] 
(r.)  He  fet  the  bounds  of  the  people  according  to  the  mimler  of  the 
CHILDREN  of  IsRAEL.]  "  The  fenfe  is,  that  fuch  a  country  was 
meafured  out  and  bounded,  as  would  be  fufiicient  to  hold  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael,  when  numerous,  and  their  time  was  come 
to  inhabit  it ;  and  which,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  put  into  the 
hands  of  Canaan  and  his  eleven  fons  to  poffefs,  not  as  their  pro- 
per inheritance,  but  as  tenants  at  will,  until  the  proper  heirs  ex- 
ifted,  and  were  at  an  age,  and  of  fufficient  number  to  inherit.  In 
which  may  be  obferved  the  wife  difpofiticjn  of  Divine  Providence, 
to  put  it  into  the  hands  of  a  people  corfed  of  God,  fo  that  to  take 
it  from  t])em  at  any  time  could  have  no  appearance  of  any  injuftice 
in  it;  and  their  enjoying  it  fo  long  as  they  did  was  a  mercy  to 

them. 


FROM  THE  FLOOD  TO  ABRAHAM'S  CALL.  123 

'  all  nations  of  men,  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the 
'  earth,  and  hath  determined  the  times  before  appointed, 

*  and  the  bounds  of  their  habitations ;  that  they   Ihould 

*  feek  the  Lord  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  him,  and 

*  find  him.'  [A6ts  xvii.  26,  27.]  The  land  of  Canaan 
was  the  moft  conveniently  fituated  of  any  place  in  the 
world  for  the  purpofe  of  fpreading  the  light  of  the  gofpel 

thence 

them,  for  fo  long  they  had  a  reprieve.  Now  here  was  an  early 
inftance  of  the  goodncfs  of  God  to  Ifrael,  that  he  fhould  make  fuch 
an  early  provifion  of  the  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey  for 
them. — [Gill  in  loc] 

*•  For  '  Children  of  Ifrael,'  the  Greek  tranflation  reads  '  Angels 

*  of  God ;'  fo  the  LXX  tranflated  this  place  purpofely,  left  the 
heathens  fhould  here  take  offence,  that  Ifrael  fhould  be  matched 
with  the  fevcnty  nations,  that  is,  with  all  the  people  of  the  world  : 
and  the  Jews  fuppofed,  there  weie  fevcnty  angels,  rulers  of  the  fe- 
venty  nations  ;  and  therefore  they  fay,  according  to  the  number 
of  the  angels  of  God,  whereby  they  mean  feventy.  Their  opinion 
is  to  be  feen  in   Rab.   Menachem    [on  Gen.  xlvi.]  where  he  faith, 

*  It  is  generally  a  rule  that  there  is  one  [degree  of]  glory  above 

*  another,  and  they  that  are  beneath  are  a  fecret  fignification  of 

*  thofe  that  are  above  ;  and  the  feventy  fouls  [Gen.  xlvi.   27.] 

*  fignify   the  feventy  angels  that  are  round  about  the  throne  of 

*  [God's]  glory,  which  are  fet  over  the  nations.'  But  we  are 
warned  to  beware  how  we  intrude  ourfelves  into  the  things  which 
we  have  not  feen."      [Col.  ii.  iS.] [Ainsvv'ORTh  in  loc] 

God  *  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men,  for  to  dwell 

*  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,   and  hath  determined, or  "  hath 

marhedout  in  his  eternal  and  unerring  counfel,  the  times  fore-allotted 
\_toeach'\  in  their  refpeftivc  order ;  ^« J  appointed //>?  feveral  boun- 
daries of  their  different  habitations  :  all  things  in  the  difpofition  of 
his  providence  centering  in  this  one  great  end,  that  they  might 
be  excited  to  feei  after  tjfje  Lord  thdr  maker.  If  poJfAly  amidft  all 
the  darknefs  which  their  own  degeneracy  and  prejudice  have 
brought  upon  their  minds,  they  might  feel  after  him  and  be  fo  happy 
as  to  Jind  him  out,  in  the  knowledge  of  whom  their  fupreme  hap- 
pinefs  confifts  ;  who  indeed,  though  he  be  fo  little  known,  Is  not 
far  from  every  one  of  us  :  for  In  him  <zue  perpetually  live^  and  are 
moved  and  do  exl/l."     [Doddridge  Fam.  Exp.  in  loc] 

Now  if  we  fhould  allow  the  conjefture  of  our  author,  that  Satan 
might  induce  fome  individuals  to  emigrate  to  the  dark  corners  of 
the  earth  (though  perhaps  this  were  better  referred  folcly  to  the 
divine  Providence)  yet  muft  we  admit  the  fuperior  wifdom,  power 
and  goodncfs  which  over-ruled  even  this  event  for  good  ;  and  wdl 
m  thp  end  'cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  do  the  fea.'     [N.  U.] 


«24        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

thence  among  the  nations  In  general.  In  the  times  im- 
mediately after  Chrift,  the  Roman  empire  included  moft 
of  the  known  world,  particularly  the  countries  round 
about  Jerufaleni,  which  was  therefore  properly  fituated 
for  the  purpofe  of  ^iffufnig  the  light  of  the  gofpel  among 
them  from  that  place.  The  devil  feeing  the  advantage  of 
this  fitiiation  of  the  nations  for  promoting  the  great  work 
of  redemption,  and  the  difadvantage  of  it  with  refpedl:  to 
the  intereft  oi  his  kingdom,  might  perhaps  lead  away  many 
into  the  remoteft  parts  of  the  world,  to  get  them  out  of  the 
way  of  the  gofpel.  Thus  fome  were  led  into  America  ; 
and  others  into  cold  northern  regions,  almoft  inacceili- 
ble. 

7.  Another  thing  I  would  mention  in  this  period,  was 
God's  preferving  the  true  religion  in  the  line  of  which 
Chrift  was  to  proceed,  when  the  world  in  general  apo- 
ftatized  to  idolatry,  and  the  church  was  in  imminent  dan- 
ger of  being  fwallowed  up  in  the  general  corruption.  Al- 
though God  had  lately  wrought  fo  wonderfully  for  the 
deliverance  of  his  church,  and  had  fliewed  fo  great  mercy 
towards  it,  as  for  its  fake  even  to  deftroy  all  the  reft  of  the 
world ;  and  although  he  had  lately  renewed  and  eftablifhed 
his  covenant  of  grace  with  Noah  and  his  fons  ;  yet  fo 
prone  is  the  corrupt  heart  of  man  to  depart  from  God, 
and  to  fink  into  the  depths  of  wickednefs ;  and  fo  prone 
to  darknefs,  delufion,  and  error,  that  the  world  foon  after 
the  flood  fell  into  grofs  idolatry  ;  fo  that  before  Abraham, 
the  diftemper  was  become  almoft  univerfal.  The  earth 
was  become  very  corrupt  at  the  time  of  the  building  of 
Babel ;  and  even  God's  people  themfelves,  even  that  line 
of  which  Chrift  was  to  come,  were  corrupted  in  a  mea- 
fure  with  idolatry:  [Jofh.  xxiv.  2.]  '  Your  fathers  dwelt 

*  on  the  other  fide  of  the  flood  in  old  time,  even  Tcrah 

*  the  father  of  Abraham,  and  the  father  of  Nahor  ;  and 

*  they  ferved  other  gods.*  The  other  fide  of  tlie  flood 
means  beyond  the  river  Euphrates,  where  the  anceftors  qf 
Abraham  lived. 

We  are  not  to  underftand  that  they  were  wholly  drawn 
off  to   idolatry,  to   forfake   the   true    God.      For   God   is 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       12; 

faid  to  be  the  God  of  Terah  ;  [Gen.  xxxi.  53.]  *  The 
'  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Nahor,  the  God  of 
*  their  father,  judge  betwixt  us.'  (s)  But  they  only  par- 
took in  fonie  meafure  of  the  general  and  almoft  univerfal 
corruption  of  the  times ;  as  Solpmon  was  in  a  meafure  in- 
fe6led  with  idolatrous  corruption  ;  and  as  the  children  of 
Ifrael  in  Egypt  are  faid  to  ferve  other  gods,  though  yet 
there  was  the  true  church  of  God  among  them  ;  and  as 
there  were  images  kept  for  a  confiderable  time  in  the  fa- 
mily of  Jacob  ;  the  corruption  being  brought  from  Padan- 
Aram,  whence  he  fetched  his  wives. 

This  was  the  fecond  time  that  the  church  was  almoft 
brought  to  nothing  by  the  corruption  and  general  defec- 
tion of  the  world  from  true  religion.  But  ftill  the  true 
religion  was  kept  up  in  the  family  from  which  Chrift 
was  to  proceed.  Which  is  another  inftance  of  God's 
remarkably  preferving  the  church  in  a  time  of  a  general 
deluge  of  wickednefs  ;  and  wherein,  although  the  god 
of  this  world  raged,  and  had  almoft  fwallowed  up  God's 
church,  yet  he  did  not  fufFer  the  gates  of  hell  to  prevail 
againft  it. 


§  III.   From  the  caUirig  of  Abraham  to  Moses. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  ftiow  how  the  work  of  re- 
demption was  carried  on  through  the  third  part  of  this 
period,  beginning  with  the  calling  of  Abraham,  and  extend- 
ing to  Mofes.     And, 

I.  It 

(s)  The  God  of  THT.IR  fa/her.]  Terah  was  their  father,  and 
he  was  certainly  an  idolater,  as  appears  from  the  text  above  cited. 
So  it  is  commonly  fuppofed  that  the  true  God  was  not  here  in- 
tended ;  *<  but  the  god  or  gods  of  Terah,  Nahor,  and  Abraham, 
worfliipped  whilft.  idolaters,  and  Laban  ftill  continued  to  do, 
though  perhaps  not  in  fo  grofs  a  manner  as  fome  did."  [Gill 
ill  loc.     See  alfo  Ainfw.  and  Poli.  Syn.] 


126        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

I .  It  pleafed  God  now  to  fepaiate  that  peifon  of  whom 
Chrift  was  to  come,  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  that  his 
church  might  be  upheld  in  his  family  and  pofterity  till 
that  time.  This  he  did  in  calling  Abraham  out  of  his 
own  country,  and  from  his  kindred^  to  go  into  a  diftant 
one,  that  God  fhould  fhow  him,  and  bringing  him  firft 
out  of  Ur  of  the  Chaldees  to  Haran,  and  then  to  the  land 
of  Canaan,  (t) 

It 

(t)  a  learned  Jew,  now  living,  hath  obliged  the  world  with 
the  following  curious  fragment  of  Jewifh  traditions  from  the 
book  Medrajh  Berejhhh,  which  we  infert  as  a  fpecimen  of  the  reft  ; 
and  cannot  but  confider  the  grave  manner  in  which  he  introduces 
it,  as  an  awful  proof  that  the  children  of  Ifrael  have  yet  the  '  i)ail 
*  upon  their  hearts  ;'  for  Certainly  Mr.  Levi  himfelf,  who  appears 
to  be  uncommonly  fhrewd,  would  have  highly  ridiculed  fo  abfurd 

a  legend,  had  it  originated  from  the  Chriftians. The  ftory  is 

this : 

"  Terach,  the  father  of  Abraham,  was  an  idolater,  and  like- 
wife  a  dealer  and  maker  of  idols.  It  chanced  one  time  that  Te- 
raeh  went  on  a  journey,  and  left  Abraham  to  take  care  of,  and 
dtfpofe  of  the  idols  during  his  abfence. 

"  When  any  man  came  to  purchafe  an  idol,  Abraham  aflced  him 
his  age.  When  the  man  had  anfwered  him,  Abraham  replied, 
Can  it  be  poflible,  that  a  perfon  of  your  years  can  be  fo  ftupid  as 
worfhip  that  that  was  made  but  yeflerday  !  The  man  being  quite 
overwhelmed  with  fharae,  hung  down  his  head,  and  departed.  In 
this  manner  he  ferved  feveral.  At  length  there  came  an  old  wo- 
man, with  a  meafure  of  fine  flour  in  her  hand,  which  {he  told  him 
fhe  had  brought  as  an  offering  to  all  the  idols.  Abraham  at  this 
was  exceedingly  wrath,  and  took  a  large  ftick,  and  broke  all  the 
idols  except  the  largeft,  which  he  left  whole,  and  put  the  ftick  in 
his  hand. 

"  When  Tcrach  returned,  and  perceived  all  the  idols  broken,  he 
aflced  Abraham  how  that  came  to  pafs  ?  Abraham  informed  him, 
that  there  came  an  old  woman  and  brought  an  offering  of  fine  flour 
to  the  idols ;  upon  which  they  immediately  fell  together  by  the 
care  for  the  prize,  when  the  large  one  killed  them  all  with  the 
ftick  which  he  then  held  in  his  hand. 

"  Terach  feeling  the  full  force  of  the  fatire,  was  greatly  exaf- 
perated,  and  immediately  had  Abraham  before  Nimrod,  in  order 
to  have  him  punifhed  for  the  contempt  fhcwn  to  his  gods. 

"  Nimrod  commanded  him  to  worflrip  the  fire  ;  but  Abraham 
anfwered  him,  that  it  would  be  more  proper  to  worfliip  the  water, 
which  cxtinguifhes  the  fire.'  Why,  then,  fays  Nimrod,  worfhip 
the  water.     No,  fays   Abraham,  it  were  better  to  worfliip  the 

clouds 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       127 

It  was  before  obferved,  tliat  the  corruption  of  the  world 
with  idolatry  was  now  become  general  ;  mankind  were 
almoft  over-run  with  it :  God  therefore  faw  it  neceflary, 
in  order  to  uphold  true  religion,  that  there  Jliould  be 
a  family  feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world  ;  for  even 
Abraliam's  own  country  and  kindred  had  moft  of  them 
fallen,  and,  without  fome  extraordinary  interpofition  of 
Providence,  in  all  likelihood,  in  a  generation  or  two  more, 
the  true  religion  would  have  been  extindl.  And  therefore 
God  faw  it  to  be  time  to  call  Abraham,  the  perfon  in 
whofe  family  he  intended  to  xiphoid  religion,  out  of  his 
own  country,  and  from  his  kindred,  to  a  far  diftant  coun- 
try, that  his  pofterity  might  there  remain  a  people  feparate 
from  all  the  reft  of  the  world  ;  fo  that  the  true  religion 
might  be  upheld  there,  while  all  mankind  befides  were 
fwallowed  up  in  heathenifm. 

S  The 

clouds  which  fuftain  the  water.  Nimrod  bid  him  worship  them  ; 
but  he  told  hitn  it  would  be  better  to  worfliip  the  wind  which  dif- 
perfes  the  clouds.  Nimrod  then  bid  him  worfiiip  the  wind.  Abra- 
ham anfvvered,  it  would  be  preferable  to  worfhip  man,  who  was 
able  to  endure  the  wind.  Well,  fays  Nimrod,  I  fee  it  is  your  in- 
tention to  deride  me  ;  I  mud  therefore  tell  you  briefly,  that  I  wor- 
fhip nothing  but  the  fire,  and  if  thou  doft  not  do  the  fame,  my 
intention  is  to  throw  you  therein  ;  and  then  I  fhall  fee,  whether 
the  God  you  worfhip  will  come  to  your  relief;'  and  immediately 
had  him  thrown  into  the  fiery  furnace. 

In  the  interim,  they  queftioncd  his  brother  Haran  concerning 
his  faith,  who  anfwered,  If  Abraham  fucceeds,  I  will  be  of  his, 
but  if  not,  of  Nimrod's.  Upon  which,  Nimrod  ordered  him.  to 
be  immediately  thrown  into  the  furnace  likewife  ;  where  he  was 
prcfently  confumed,  but  Abraham  came  out  of  the  furnace  with- 
out receiving  the  leaf!  injury. 

This  agrees  with  the  28th  verfe  of  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Ge- 
nefis. 

'  And  Haran  died  in  the  prefence  of  his  father  Terab,  in  the 

*  land  of  his  nativity,  in  the  fire   of  the  Chaldeans ;'   [we  read 

*  Ur  of  the  Chaldeans,'  as  a  proper  name]  for  it  was  by  means  of 
the  accufation  which  Terah  exhibited  againft  Abraham,  that  Ha- 
ran fuflfered  death  ;  fo  that  he  may  juilly  be  faid  to  have  died  in 
the  prefence  of  his  father.  Here  is  an  admirable  lefTon  for  man- 
kind :  and  which  clearly  points  out  the  difrercnce  between  thofe 
which  ferve  the  Lord  in  truth  and  fincerity,  and  thofe  which  are 
lukewarm,  and  eafily  turn  to  that  which  feems  moft  profitable  in 
this  world.  Tin's  tranfaclion,  the  author  of  Shal/Jjclctb  Hakkabala 
fays,  happened  in  the  feventieth  year  of  Abraham.      [Heb.  Ditt.] 


'i^8        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

The  land  of  Clir.ldees,  that  Abraham  was  called  to  go 
out  of,  was  the  country  about  Babel ;  Babel  or  Baby- 
ion,  was  the  chief  city  of  tiie  land  of  Chaldea.  Learned 
men  fuppufe  that  it  was  in  this  land  that  idolatry  firft 
be^an ;  that  Babel  and  Chaldea  were  the  original  and 
chiet  feat  of  the  worihip  of  idols,  whence  it  fpread  into 
other  nations,    (u)      And  therefore  the  land  of  Chaldeans, 

or 

(u)  Idolatp.y  began  in  Chalclca.~\  "  The  rife  of  idolatry 
after  the  flood  is  generally  attributed  by  learned  men  to  the  Ba- 
bylonians or  Chaldeans ;  and  what  conlirms  this  opinion  is,  Ba- 
bylon's being  called  '  the  mother  of  harlots,'  [Rev.  xvii.  5.  J  /.  e. 
as  Mr.  Mede  explains  it,  the  firll  parent  of  idols.  There  is  no 
doubt,  but  the  firft  introducers  of  it  were  bred  up  in  the  wor- 
fhip  of  the  true  Gcd,  agreeably  to  the  revelation  he  had  made  of 
his  .will  to  mankind,  in  that  religion  which  was  profeffed  by  the 
true  church  from  Adam  to  Mofes,  and  which  led  thofe  who  lived 
up  to  it  to  evevlafting  h  ppinefs.      But  the  '  worfhipping  God  in 

*  fpirit  and  in  truth,'  was  too  refined  a  principle,  a  religion  too 
angelical,  for  fuch  as  feem  to  have  been  more  delighted  with  the 
ritual  and  ceremonial,  than  with  the  Ipiritual  and  more  effential 
part  of  it.  The  outward  and  vifible  obfervances,  in  the  then  true 
church,  feem  to  have  been  but  very  few,  and  thofe  orderly  and 
decent ;  but,  it  may  be,  they  were  multiplied  before  idolatry  was 
brought  in,  as  it  is  certain  they  afterwards  were  by  the  intro- 
ducers of  it,  to  an  exceflive  degree  ;  and  from  being  too  much 
delighted  with  the  externals  of  religion,  they  were  infenfibly  led 
to  join  vifible  and  material  objefts  of  worfliip  with  the  infinity  of 
God's  majclly,  which  tranfcended  the  capacity  of  their  natures  ; 
and  fo  gratified  their  fcnfes  and  imaginations  with  a  vifible  objeft 
of  worfliip.  And  then  being  naturally  invited  by  the  ferenity  of 
their  climate,  (the  weather  being  generally  fair,  and  the  air  clear, 
without  either  clouds  or  rain)  to  the  contemplation  of  the  hea- 
venly bodies,  which  they  were  forced  to  make  ufe  of  in  their 
geoponics,  [agriculture]  having  no  calender  by  which  to  know 
the  feafons,  they  were  foon  furprized  with  their  admirable  ftruc- 
ture,  beauty,  and  regular  motion  ;  and  obferving  what  influence 
thofe  celeltial  bodies  had,  and  what  benefits  were  communicated 
to  mankind  by  them,  from  being  ravifhed  into  an  admiration  of 
their  regularity  and  harmony  of  order,  they  concluded,  that 
God  made  ufe  of  them  as  his  miti't/lers,  and  that,  as  fuch, 
he  was  as  defirous  that  regard  fhould  be  paid  them,  as  earthly 
princes  are,  that  their  minifters  fliould  be  reverenced  and 
efteemed.  Ma'imonidcs,  who  ....'.  fixes  this  to  the  time 
of  Enos,  [See  above,  Note  (z)  p.  89.]  tcils  us,  [In  Halacoth~\ 
that  '  in  his  days  the  fons  of  men  grievouily  erred,  and  the  wife 

*  men  became  brutifh,  even  Enos  himfelf  being  in  their  number. 

*  Their 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       120 

or  the  country  of  Babylon,  is  in  icripture  called  tlic  land 
of  graven  images:    [Jer.  1.  35,  38.]    'A  fword  is  upon 

'  the 

*  Their  error  %\^as  this,    that   God  having  created   the  ftars  and 

*  fpheres,  placed  them  on  high  to  govern  the  world,  and  beflow- 

*  ed  this  honour  upon  them,  that  they  (hould  be  his  minijlers  and 

*  fubfervient  inftruments,  and  that  therefore  men  ought  to  praife,, 

*  honour  and  worfhip  them :  this  being  the  pleafure  of  the  blef- 

*  fed  God,  that  men  (Tiould  magnify  and  honour  thofe   whom 

*  himfelf  had  magnified  and  honoured,  as  a  king  would  have  his 

*  minifters  to  be  reverenced,  this  honour  redounding  to  himfelf.' 
From  wordiipping  them  as  God's  minifters,  they  were  foon  led  to 
confider  them  as  mediators  between  him  and  them;  '  For  being 
'  confcious  of  their  own  meannefs,  vilenefs,  and  impurity,  they 

*  could  not  conceive  how   it  was  pofiible  for  them  of  themfelves 

*  alone  to  have  any  accefs  to  the  All-Holy,  All-Glorlous,  and  Su- 

*  preme  Governor  of  all  Things — and  therefore  concluded,  that 

*  there  muft  be  a  mediator,  by  whofe  means  alone  they  could 

*  make  any  addrefs  unto  him.'  \_Pr'ideaux,  vol.  i.  b.  3.]  But 
having  no  knowledge  of  the  true  Mediator  ;  it  may  be,  having  for- 
got what  had  been  revealed  to  Adam  concerning  him  .  .  .  they  hid 
recourfe  to  mediators  of  their  own  chufing,  by  means  of  wh(/m 
they   might  addrefs  themfelves  to  the    Supreme    God.     '  They 

*  thought  thefe  the  propereft  beings  to  become  the  mediators  be- 

*  tvveen  God  and  them.'  This,  probably,  might  be  their  opi- 
nion ;  though  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  idolatry  came  infenfi- 
bly  and  by  degrees,  and  that  they  v.'ho  firll  introduced  it,  did  not 
carry  the  impiety  to  the  height  it  afterwards  arrived  at  ;  they  had 
no  fyftem  of  theology  that  was  either  well  put  together  or  well  un- 
derftood,  but  fuch  an  one  as  was  neither  the  work  of  a  wife  nor 
intelligent  people.  And  therefore  we  find,  that  as  they  worflilp- 
ped  the  heavenly  hoft  as  God's  minifters,  and  as  mediators  be- 
tween him  and  them,  fo  they  did  give  them  the  name  of  gods  ; 
[Wifdom  xiii.  2,  3.]  '  Being  delighted  with  their  beauty,  they  took 

*  them  to  be  the  gods  which  govern  the  world:'  foohThly  con- 
cluding the  kind  influence  of  the  heavenly  bodies  to  be  the  infmite 
goodnefs  of  the  divine  nature.  Thus  Plato  [  Apud  Eufcb.  Preep. 
Ev.  1.  i.  c.  9.  &  1.  iii.  c.  2.]  alTures  us  of  the  firft  inhabitants  of 
Greece,  that  they  had  no  other  gods  than  the  fun,  moon,  &c.  and 
Diodorus,  [Lib.  i,  c.  i.]  fpeaking  of  '  the  firft  generation  of  men,' 
who  were  fuppofed  to  be  Egyptians,  fays,  that  '  contemplating 
'  the  beauty  of  the  fuperior  world,  and  admiring  with  aftonifli- 
'  ment  the  frame  and  order  of  the  univerfe,  they  judged  that  there 
'  were  two  chief  goods  that  were  eternal,   that  is  to  fay.  the  fun 

*  and  the  moon,  the  firft  of  which  was  called  0/?rij-,  and  the  otlier 

*  Jfis: 

"  The  worfliip  of  the  heavenly  bodies  was,  without  doubt,  the 
firft  idolatry.     *  There  was  neither  good  nor  evil  daemons  wor- 

S  2  ^  ftiipped 


I30        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  the  Chaldeans,  faith  the  Lord,  and  upon  the  inhabitants 

*  of  Babylon,  and  upon  her  princes,    and  upon  her  wife 

'   men. 

fhipped  by  them,'  fays  Eufebius,  fpeaking  of  the  moft  ancient 
heathens.  [Prcep.  Ev.  1.  i.  c.  9.  J  .  .  .  Thus  we  find  Job,  who  is  the 
ancientcft  author  we  have,  [unlefs  it  m^y  be  the  Ixxxviiith  and 
Ixxxixth  Pfahiis]  vindicating  himfelf  from  it  ;    [Job  xxxi.  26,  27.3 

*  If  I  beheld,'  fays  he,  '  the  fun  when  it  fhined,  or  the  moon 
<  walking  in  brightnefs,  and  my  heart  has  been  fecretly  enticed, 
^  or  my  mouth  has  kiffed  my  hand,'  (which  was,  as  St.  Jerom  and 
Pliny  tell  us,   the  ancient  way  of  paying  worfhip  and  refpeft)  .  .  . 

*  I  fhould  have  denied  the  God  that  is  above.'  And  hence  it  is 
that  the  Egyptians  when  they  came  to  corrupt  their  hiftory  with 
the  falfe  antiquity  they  affefhed,  having  defied  the  heavenly  bo- 
dies, reprefented  them  as  having  reigned  in  their  country  before 

they  were  governed  by  heroes  and  kings There  are  a  great 

many  places  in  fcripture  where  this  idolatry  is  mentioned  ;  I  fhall 
take  notice  but  of  one  of  them,  [z.  Kings  xxiii.  5.]  where  the 
objeds  of  this  worfhip  are  particularly  diilinguiflied,   '  They  that 

*  burnt  incenfe  to  the  fun,  and  to  the  moon,  and  to  the  planets,  [or 

*  conjlellat'ions,  as  in  the  margin]  and  to  all  the  hojl  of  heamen. — 
[A.  Young,  on  Idolatrous  Corruptions,  vol.  i.  p.  22 — 30.] 

It  is  highly  probable,  however,  that  in  different  countrieo,  and 
at  various  periods,  idolatry  originated  from  other  caufes.  So  in 
after  <;mes,  mankind  "  having  a  falfe  notion  of  giatitude  for  fuch 
as  had  founded  commonwealths,  led  out  colonies,  rendered  them- 
felves  famous  by  th'eir  aftions,  or  by  their  ufeful  inventions, 
gained  a  general  love  and  elleem  ;  they  proceeded  to  rank  them 
likewife  in  the  number  of  their  gods.  The  refpeti  which  was 
paid  them  while  ahve,  followed  them  to  their  graves  ;  and  they 
were  no  fooner  interred,  than  an  extravagant  efteem  of  their  high 
qualities,  conipiving  with  the  people's  gratitude,  and  a  grofs 
ignorance  of  the  divine  natuie,  effefted  their  deification.  The 
Arabian  writers  [See  Dr  Pocock's  notes  on  his  fpecimen,  Hift. 
Arab.  p.  94.]  are  generally  agreed  that  this  was  the  original  of 
their  idolatry.  And  D'lodorus  tells  us  of  the  Egyptians,  [L.  i. 
c.    I.]   that  bcfides  the  heavenly  gods,  they  fay  there  '  are  others 

*  that   are   terreftrial,    who  were  begotten  by  them,    and  were 

*  originally  mortal  men,   but  by  reafon  of  their  wildom,  and  bene- 

*  ficence  to  all  mankind,  have  obtained  immortality  :  of  which 

*  fome  have  been  kings  of  Egypt.'  Tiilly  [De  Nat.  Deor.]  and 
Pl'iny  [L.  ii.  c.  7.]  both  of  them  affure  us,  that  this  was  the 
ancient  manner  of  rewarding  fuch  as  had  defcrved  well.  And  it 
....  fuited  the  am.bition   and  vanity  t^f  princes,  as  well  as  the 

interell  of  fubjefls And  when  they  loil  their  children,  it 

was  fome  comfort  to  them  to  fee  them  ranked  in  the  number  of 
their  gods  ....  Thus,  [fays  the  book  of  Wifdom,  ch.  xiv.  15.] 
\  A  father  afflifted  with  untimely  mourning,  when  he  has  made 

*  an 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       131 

*  men.— A  drought  is  upon  her  waters,  and  they  fhall  be 

*  dried  up  ;  for  it  is  the  land  of  graven  images,  and  they  are 

*  mad  upon  their  idols.'  God  calls  Abiaham  out  of  this 
idolatrous  country,  to  a  great  diflance  from  it.  And  when 
he  came  there,  he  gave  him  no  inheritance  in  it,  no  not 
fo  much  as  to  fet  his  foot  on  ;  but  he  remained  a  flranfrer 
and  a  fojourner,  that  he  and  his  family  might  be  kept  Icpa- 
rate  from  all  the  world,   (v) 

This 

*  an  image  of  his  child  foon  taken  away,  now  honoured  him  as 
'  a  god,  who  was  then  a  dead  man,  and  delivered  to  thofe  who 
'  were  under  liim,  ceremonies  and  facrifices.' — [Idol.  Cor.  vol.  i. 

P-  73—75-] 

"  Thefe  two  different  objefts  of  idolatrous  worfhip,  the  hoft  of 
heaven,  and  their  dead  princes  and  heroes,  were  generally  con- 
founded together.  This  proceeded  from  their  giving  the  fouls  of 
the  great  perfonages  they  had  confecrated  and  made  their  fove- 
reign  and  celeftial  gods,  the  fun,  moon,  and  ftarsfor  their  habita- 
tion, in  which  they  fuppofed  them  to  dwell,  as  in  fo  many  (lately 
palaces  or  temples.  The  believing  the  heavenly  bodies  to  have 
intelligent  and  rational  beings  prefiding  in  them,  diffipatcd,  as 
they  thought,  fome  abfurdities  attending  their  theology,  and 
njade  it  more  reafonable  than  it  would  otherwife  have  been. 
Thus  jfamhlicus,  [Seft.  i.  c.  17.]  in  anfvver  to  thofe  who  objedfted 
to  the  divinity  of  the  fun,  moon,  &c.  becaufe  they  were  corporeal, 
jays  from  the  old  books  of  the  Egyptians,  that  they  worihipped 
them  indeed  as  vifible  gods,  but  that  they  were  compounded  of 
foul  and  body,  and  to  be  elleemed  the  feats  of  fuch  ccleilial  fpirits 
as  take  care  of  human  affairs.  And  the  philofophers,  Pythagoras, 
Plato,  &c.  who  travelled  into  the  eaft  in  fearch  of  knowledge, 
were  not  fo  abfurd  as  to  believe  that  the  hoft  of  heaven  were  really 
and  abfolutcly  gods."      [Idol.  Cor.  p.  107,   io8.] 

We  might  here  add  the  origin  of  images  and  image  worfhip, 
but  left  we  fliould  be  tedious,  will  referve  it  for  a  future  Note. 

(v)  Ahraham  remained  a  stranger  <7n^ «  sojourner.]  So 
the  apoftle,  Heb.  xi.  13,  14.  And  on  this  paffage  our  author  has 
elfewhere  railed  the  following  propofition  ;  "  This  life  ougiyt  to  he 
[0  fpcnt  by  us,  as  to  be  only  a  journey  totuards  heaven."  Here  our 
author  obferves  among  other  things,  "  That  we  ought  not  to  rejl  hi 
the  'world  and  its  enjoyments,  but  JJjoidd  defire  heaven.  This  our 
hearts  (hould  be  chiefly    upon   and    engaged  about.     We  fiiould 

*  feek  firft  the  kingdom  of  God.'  He  that  is  on  a  journey,  feeks 
the  place  that  he  is  journeying  to.  We  ought  above  all  things  to 
defire  a  heavenly  happinefs  ;  to  go  to  heaven  and  there  be  with 
pod;  and  dwell  with  Jefus  Chriit.     If  we  are  furiounded-  with 

many 


132         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

This  was  a  new  thing  :  God  had  never  taken  fuch  a 
method  before.     Kis  church  had  not   in  this  manner  been 

feparated 

many  outward  enjoyments,  and  things  that  are  very  comfortable 
to  us  ;  if  we  are  fettled  in  families,  and  have  thofe  good  friends 
and  relations  that  are  very  defirable :  if  we  have  companions 
whofe  fociety  is  delightful  to  us  :  if  we  have  children  that  are 
pleafant  and  hopeful,  and  in  whom  we  fee  many  promifmg  quali- 
fications :  if  we  live  by  good  neighbours  ;  have  much  of  the  re- 
fped  of  others  ;  have  a  good  name  ;  are  generally  beloved  where 
we  are  known  :  and  have  comfortable  and  pleafant  accommoda-- 
tions  ;  yet  we  ought  not  to  take  our  refl  in  thefe  things.  We 
fhould  not  be  wilHng  to  have  thefe  things  for  our  portion,  but 
fhould  feek  a  higher  happinefs  in  another  world.  AVe  fliould  not 
merely  feek  fomething  elfe  in  addition  to  thefe  things ;  but  fliould 
be  fo  far  from  refting  in  them,  that  we  fliould  chufe  and  defire  to 
leave  thefe  things  for  heaven  ;  to  go  to  God  and  Chrill  there. 
We  fliould  not  be  willing  to  live  here  always,  if  we  could,  in  the 
fame  flirength  and  vigour  of  body  and  mind  as  when  in  youth,  or 
in  the  midftof  our  days  ;  and  always  enjoy  the  fame  pleafure,  and 
dear  friends,  and  other  earthly  comforts.  We  fliould  chufe  and 
dcflre  to  leave  them  all  in  God's  due  tim.c,  that  we  might  go  to 
heaven,  and  there  have  the  enjoyment  of  God.  V/e  ought  to 
poflfefsthem,  enjoy  and  make  ufe  of  them,  with  no  other  view  cr 
9im,  but  readily  to  quit  them,  whenever  v.-e  are  called  to  it,  and 
to  change  them  for  heaven.  And  when  we  are  called  away  from 
them,  we  fliould  go  cheerfully  and  wilHngly. 

"  He  that  is  going  a  journey,  is  not  wont  to  refl:  in  what  he  meet? 
with  that  is  comfortable  and  pleafing  on  the  road.  -If  he  pafies 
along  through  pleafant  places,  flowery  meadows,  or  fliady  groves, 
he  does  not  take  up  his  content  in  thefe  things.  He  is  content 
only  to  take  a  tranfient  view  of  thefe  pleafant  objefts  as  he  goes 
along.  He  is  not  enticed  by  thefe  fine  appearances  to  put  an  end 
to  his  journey,  and  leave  off  the  thought  of  proceeding.  No, 
but  his  journey's  end  is  in  his  mind  ;  that  is  the  great  thing  tliat 
he  aims  at.  So  if  he  meets  with  comfortable  and  pleafant  accom- 
rnodations  on  the  road,  at  an  inn  ;  yet  he  does  not  refl:  there  ;  he 
entertains  no  thoughts  of  fettling  there.  He  confiders  that  thefe 
things  are  not  his  own,  and  that  he  is  but  a  fl:ranger  ;  that  tluit  is 
not  allotted  for  his  home.  And  when  he  has  refreflied  himftlf,  or 
tarried  but  for  a  night,  he  is  for  leaving  thefe  accommodations, 
and  going  forward,  and  getting  onward  towards  his  journey's  end. 
And  the  thoughts  of  coming  to  his  fourney's  end  are  not  at 
all  grievous  to  him.  He  does  not  defire  to  be  travelling  always 
and  never  come  to  his  journey's  end;  the  thoughts  of  that  v>ould 
be  difcouraging  to  him.  But  it  is  pleafant  to  him  to  think  that 
fo  mucii  of  the  way  is  gone,  that  he  is  now  nearer  home  ;    and  that 

he 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       133 

■fcparatcd  trom  the  reft  of  the  world  till  now  ;  but  were 
wont  to  dwell  \  .  them,  without  any  bar  or  fence  to 
'keep  them  feparate  ;  the  milchievous  confequence  of 
which  had  been  found  repeatedly.  The  effc6l  l^cfore  the 
^00// of  God's  people  living  intermingled  with  the  wicked 
world,  without  any  remarkable  wall  of  feparation,  was, 
that  the  Ions  of  God  joined  in  marriage  with  others,  and 
thereby  foon  became  infe6fed,  and  the  church  was  alraoft 
brought  to  nothing.  The  method  that  God  then  took  was 
to  drown  the  wicked  world,  and  fave  the  church  in  the 
ark.  And  now  the  world,  before  Abraham  was  called,  was 
become  corrupt  again.  But  here  God  took  another  me- 
thod. He  did  not  deftroy  the  world,  and  fave  Abraham, 
and  his  wife,  and  Lot  in  an  ark  ;  but  he  calls  thefe  perfons 
to  go  and  live  feparate  from  the  refl. 

This  was  a  new  and  a  s^eat  thins,  that  God  did  toward 
the  work  of  redemption.  It  was  about  the  middle  of  the 
fpace  of  time  between  the  fall  of  man  and  the  coming 
of  Chrifl  ;  about  two  thoufand  ye.-^.rs  before  his  incarna- 
tion.    But  by    this  calling  of  Abraham,  the  anceftor  of 

Chrift, 

he  fhall  prefently  be  there  ;  and  the  toil  and  fatigue  of  his  journey 
will  be  over. 

"  So  riiould  we  thus  defue  heaven  fo  much  more  than  the  com- 
forts and  enjoyments  of  this  life,  that  we  fhould  long  to  change 
thefe  things  for  heaven.  We  fliould  wait  with  an  earntil  defire  for 
the  time,  when  we  fliall  arrive  at  our  journey's  end.  The  apoftle 
mentions  it  as  an  encouraging,  comfortable  confideratlon  to  Chrif- 
tians,  when  they  draw  nigh  their  happinefs.      '  Now  is  our  falva- 

*  tion  nearer  than  when  we  believed.'    [Rom.  xiii.  11.] 

"  Our  hearts  ought  to  be  loofe  to  thefe  things,  as  it  is  with  a 
man  that  is  on  a  journey.  However  comfortable  enjoyments  arc, 
yet  we  ought  to  keep  our  hearts  fo  loofe  from  them,  as  cheerfully 
to  part  with  them  whenever  God  calls.     '  But  this  I  fay,  brethren, 

*  the  time  is  fliott,  it  remaineth,  that  both  they  that  have  wives, 
'  be  as  though  they  had  none  ;  and  they  that  weep,  as  though  they 

*  wept  not ;  and  they  that  rejoice,  as  though  they  rejoiced  not  ; 

*  and  they  that  buy,  as  though  they  pofieffed  not ;  and  they  that 

*  ufe  thi'S  world,  as  not  abuhng  it ;  for  the  fafliion  of  this  world 

*  paffeth  away.'      [i.  Cor.  vii.  29,  30.] 

"  We  ought  to  look  upon  thefe  things,  as  only  lent  to  us  for  a 
little  while,  to  ferve  a  prefent  turn  ;  but  we  fliould  fet  our  hearts 
on  heaven  as  our  inheritance  for  ever."  [Pref.  Edward's  Pofth. 
Sermon,  p.  371.] 


134        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Chrlll,  a  foundation  was  laid  for  the  upholding  the  church 
in  the  world,  till  Chrill:  fliould  come.  For  the  world  hav- 
ing become  idolatrous,  there  was  a  neceffity  that  the  feed  of 
the  woman  Ihould  be  thus  feparated  from  the  idolatrous 
world  in  order  thereunto. 

It  was  alfo  needful  chat  there  fhould  be  a  particular  na- 
tion feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  to  receive  the 
types  and  prophecies  that  were  to  be  given  of  Chrift,  to 
prepare  the  way  for  his  coming  :  that  to  them  might  be 
committed  the  oracles  of  God  ;  that  by  them  the  hiftory 
of  God's  great  work  of  creation  and  providence  miglit 
be  preferved  ;  that  fo  Chrift  might  be  born  of  this  na- 
tion ;  and  from  hence  the  light  of  the  gofpel  ftiine  forth 
to  the  reft  of  the  world.  Thefe  ends  could  not  well  be 
obtained,  if  God's  people,  through  all  thefe  two  thoufand 
years,  had  lived  intermixed  with  the  heathen  world.  So 
that  this  calling  of  Abraham  may  be  looked  upon  as  a  kind 
of  a  new  foundation  laid  for  the  viftble  church  of  God, 
in  a  more  diftind:  and  regular  ftate,  to  be  built  on  this 
foundation  from  henceforward,  till  Chrift  Ihould  avflually 
come,  and  then  through  him  to  be  propagated  to  all  na- 
tions. So  that  Abraham  being  the  perfon  in  whom  this 
foundation  is  laid,  is  reprefented  in  fcripture  as  though 
he  were  tlie  father  of  all  the  church,  the  father  of  all 
them  that  believe  ;  as  it  were  a  root  whence  the  vifiblc 
church  rcfe  as  a  tree  diftin6l  from  all  others';  of  which 
tree  Chrift  was  the  branch  of  righteoufnefs ;  and  from 
which,  after  Chrift  came,  the  natural  branches  were  bro- 
ken off",  and  the  Gentiles  were  grafted  in.  So  that  Abra- 
ham ftill  remains  (through  Chrift)  the  father  of  the 
church.  It  is  the  fame  tree  which  from  that  fmall  be- 
ginning in  Abraham's  time,  has  in  thefe  days  of  the  gof- 
pel fpread  its  branches  over  a  great  part 'of  the  earth,  and 
will  till  the  whole  in  due  time,  and  at  the  end  of  the 
world  be  tranfplanted  from  an  earthly  foil  into  the  Para- 
dife  of  God. 

2.  There  accompanied  this  a  more  particular  and  full 
revelation  and  confirmation  of  the  .covenant  of  grace  than 
ever  before  had  been.  There  were  before  this  two  par- 
ticular 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       13S 
ticular    and  folemn  editions  or  confirmations  of  this  co- 
venant ;  one  whereby   it  wac  revealed  to  our  firrt  parents, 
foon  after  the  fall;  the  other  whereby   God  folemnly  re- 
newed the  fame  covenant  witli  Noah  and  his  family  foon 
after  the  flood ;    and  now  a  third,  at  the  calling  of  Abra-^ 
ham,  which  being  much  nearer  the  time  of  the  coming  of 
Chriil  than  either  of  the  former,  it  was  much  more  full 
and   particular.      It   was   now    revealed,    not   only    that 
Chrift  {hould  come,  but  that  he  fhould  be  Abraham  s  leed  ; 
and  tliat  all  the  families  of  the  earth  fliould  be  bleffed  m 
him      God  repeatedly  promifed  this  to  Abraham.     Firfl, 
when  he  HrR  called  him,    [Gen.  xii.  2.]    '  And  I  will 
<-  make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and  I  will  blefs  thee,  and 
'  make  thv  name  great:    and   thou  ihak  be  a  bleffing.' 
The  fame'promife  was  renewed  after  he  came  into  the 
Jand  of  Canaan,   [chap.  xiii.  14,  &c.]     Again  alter  Abra- 
ham returned  from  the  flaughter  of  the  kings,  [chap.^v. 
5,  6.]   And  a  fourth  time,  after  his  otFering  up  liaac,  [ch. 

xxii.  16,   17,   18]  •  ,     Au 

In  this  renewal  of  the  covenant  of  grace  with  Abra- 
ham, feveral  particulars  concerning  it  were  revealed  more 
fullv  than  before  ;  not  only  that  Chrift  was  to  be  of  Abra- 
ham's feed;    but  alfo,  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
brin-lng  all  nations  into  the  church,  that  all  the  families  of 
the  earth  might  be  bleffed,  was  now  made  known.     And 
•:he  great  condition  of  the  covenant  of   grace,    which  is 
"-faitht   was  now  more  fully  revealed.      [Gen.  xv.  5,  6.] 
'   /,nd  he  faid  unto  him,  So  Ihall  thy  feed  be.     And  Abra- 
^  ham  believed  God,    and  It  was  counted  unto  him  for 
<  rbhteoufnefs.'     Which  is  much  taken  notice  of  in  the 
\Tew  Teftament,    and  from  thence  Abraham  was  called 
^  the  father  of  them  tliat  believe.'  [Rom.  iv.  2— 1 1-] 

And  as  there  was  now  a  farther  revelation  ot  the  co- 
venant of  grace,  fo  there  was  a  farther  confirmation  ot 
it  bv  feals  and  pledges,  than  ever  had  been  before;  as, 
particularly,  God  did  now  inftitute  a  certain  facrament, 
to  be  a  ftanding  feal  of  this  covenant  in  the  vihble  churcn, 
till  Chrift  fhould  come,  viz.  circumclfion.  Circumci- 
fion  was  a  foal  of  this  covenant  of  grace,  as  appears  by 

T  "^ 


136  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

its  firft  inftitution,  in  the  xviith  chapter  of  Genefis.    (\v) 
It  there   nppears  to  be  a  feal  of  that  covenant  by  which 

God 

(w)  God  now  wjl'tiuted  circiimc'ifion.~\  "  This  was  the  firfl 
inftitution  of  circumciiion,  and  it  was  an  inllltution  of  God,  and 
not  of  man.     Indeed  Herodotus  fays,  that  '  the  Colchi,  Egyptians 

*  and  Ethiopians  only  of  all  men  circumcifed  from  the  beginning  ; 

*  and  the  Phoenicians  and  Syrians,  which  are  in  Paleiline,  learnt  it 

*  of  the  Egyptians,  as  they  themfelves  confefs.'  So  D'lochrus  Si- 
culiis  fpeaks  of  circumcifion  as  an  Egyptian  rite,  and  fays  there  are 
fome  who  make  the  nation  of  the  Colchi,  and  of  the  Jews,  to 
come  from  the  Egyptians  ;  hence  he  obfcrves,  that  with  thefc  na- 
tions there  is  an  ancient  tradition  to  circumcifc  their  new-born  in- 
fants, which  rite  was  derived  from  the  Egyptians:  but  as  the  ori- 
ginal of  the  Jewifh  nation  is  miftaken,  fo  likewife  the  original  of 
this  rite.  And  they  may  as  well  be  thought  to  be  miftaken  in  the 
one  as  in  the  other.  Thofe  in  Paleftine  that  were  circumcifed  were 
the  Jews  only,  as  Jofephus  obferves ;  but  they  did  not  learn  this 
rite  from  the  Egyptians,  nor  do  they  ever  confefs  it,  but  on  the 
contrary  fnggeft,  that  the  Egyptians  learnt  it  from  them  in  the 
times  of  Jolcph  ;  for  their  principal  lexicographer  fays,  the  Egyp- 
tians were  circumcifed  in  the  times  of  Jofeph,  and  when  Jofeph 
died  they  drew  over  the  foreflcin  of  the  flefli.  The  Colchi  indeed, 
who  were  a  colony  of  the  Egyptians,  might  learn  it  from  them; 
And  fo  the  Ethiopians,  who  were  their  neighbours  likewife,  and 
agreed  with  them  in  many  things.  Artapamis,  an  heathen  writer, 
fays  indeed,  that  the  Ethiopians,  though  enemies,  had  fuch  a  re- 
gard for  Mofes,  that  they  learned  from  him  the  rite  of  circumci- 
iion ;  and  not  only  they,  but  all  the  priefts,  that  is,  in  Egypt  ;  and 
indeed  the  Egyptian  priefts  only,  and  not  the  people,  were  cir- 
cumcifed. It  is  not  very  difficult  to  account  for  it,  how  other  na- 
tions bcfides  the  Jews  ftiould  receive  circumcifion,  which  was  firft 
enjoined  Abraham  and  his  feed  ;  the  Iftimaelites  had  it  from  Ifti- 
mael  the  Son  of  Abraham  ;  from  them  the  old  Arabs  ;  from  the 
Arabs,  the  Saracens;  and  fiom  the  Saracens,  the  Turks  to  this 
d^y  :  other  Arabian  nations,  as  the  Midianites,  and  others,  had  it 
from  the  fons  of  Abraham  by  Keturah ;  and  perhaps  the  Egyp- 
tians and  Ethiopians  from  them,  if  the  former  had  it  not  from  the 
Ifraelites ;  and  the  Edomites  had  it  from  Edcm  or  Efau,  the  fon 
of  Ifaac,  the  fen  of  Abraham;  fo  that  all  originally  had  it  from 
Abraham,  and  he  by  a  divine  command.  It  is  not  fo  much  to  be 
wondered  at,  that  Herodotus  and  Diodorus  Siculus,  men  either 
impofed  upon  by  the  Egyptian  priefts,  as  the  former,  or  wrote  in 
favour  of  that  nation,  as  the  latter,  and  \\'holly  ignorant  of  divine 
revelation,  fliould  affert  what  they  have  done;  but  that  Chriftian 
writers,  who  have  the  advantage  of  divine  revelation,  and  have 
read  the  hiftory  of  the  Bible,  fuch  as  Mar/Jjatn,  Spencer,  and  Le 
Clerc,  Ihould  incline  to -the  fame  fentiment,  is  amazing  ;  and  efpc- 

cially 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       137 

God  proniifed  to  make  Abraham  a  father  of  many  na- 
tions, compare  the  5th  with  the  9th  and  loth  verfes. 
And  we  are  exprcfsly  taught,  that  it  was  a  feal  of  the 
righteoufuefs  of  faith,  [Rom  iv.  u.]  Speaking  of  Abra- 
ham, the  apoftle  fays,  '  He  received  the  fign  of  circum- 
*  cifion,  a  feal  of  the  righteoufnefs  of  faith.'  And  this 
facrament  chiefly  diftinguiflied  Abraham's  feed  from  the 
world,  and  kept  up  a  feparation  between  them  more  than 
any  other  particular  obfervance  whatever. 

And  befides  this,  there  were  other  occafional  feals,  and 
confirmations,  that  Abraham  had  of  this  covenant;  as, 
^particularly,  (i.)  God  gave  Abraham  a  remarkable  pledge 
of  the  ftilfilment  of  the  promife  he  had  made  him,  in  his 
vi61:ory  over  Chedorlaomer  and  the  kings  that  were  with 
him.  Chedorlaomer  feems  to  have  reigned  over  a  great 
part  of  the  world  at  that  day:  and  though  he  had  his 
feat  at  Elam,  which  was  not  much  if  any  thing  fnort  of 
a  thoufand  miles  from  the  land  of  Canaan,  yet  he  ex- 
tended his  empire  fo  as  to  reign  over  many  parts  of  that 
land,  as  appears  by  chap.  xiv.  4 — y.  It  is  fuppofed  by 
learned  men,  that  he  was  a  king  of  the  AlTyrian  empire, 
which  had  been  begun  by  Nimrod  at  Babel.*  And  as  it: 
was  the  honour  of  kings  in  thofe  days  to  build  new  cites 
to  be  made  the  feats  of  empire,  [Gen.  x.  10—12.]  fo  it 
is  conjeftured,  that  he  had  built  him  a  city  in  Elam,  and 
made  that  his  feat ;  and  that  the  other  kings,  who  came 
with  him,  were  his  deputies  in  the  fevcral  cities  and  coun- 
tries where  they  reigned.     But  yet  as  mighty  an  empire  as 

T  2  he 

-cially  when  our  blciTed  Lord  has  cxprefsly  fald,  that  circumcifion 
is  of  the  fathers,  [John  vii.  22.]  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob;  firfl; 
given  to  them,  and  praciifed  by  them.  Even  Tbeodotus,  an  hea- 
then writer,  agrees  with  this  facred  teftimony  of  Mofes,  when 
fpcaking  of  the  circumcifion  of  Shcchem,  in  the  times  of  Jacob, 
he  traces  this  rite  to  its  original,  and  obferves,  that  when  Abraham 
was  brought  out  of  his  own  country,  he  was  ordered yro??z  ksavcn 
to  circumcife  every  man  in  his  houfe.  It  may  indeed  feeni  ftrangc 
how  it  fliould  obtain  in  the  iflands  of  the  Weft  Indies,  as  in  Jucu- 
tana,  Sanfta  Crux,  and  others,  where  the  Spaniards  fouad  in  the 
beginning  of  the  fixteenth  century  thofe  illcs  inhabited  by  idolaterSs 
S?ho  were  circumcifed."  [Gill  on  Gen.  xvii.  10.] 
*  See  Sbuchford' s  Connex.  vol.  ii,  b.  6. 


138        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

he  had,  and  as  great  an  army  as  he  now  came  with,  Abra- 
ham, only  with  his  trained  fervants  that  were  born  in  his 
own  lioufe,  conquered  and  fubdued  them  all.  This  vic- 
toiy  he  received  of  God  as  a  pledge  cf  the  viclory  that 
Chrift,  his  feed,  ihould  obtain  over  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
whereby  he  fhould  poflefs  the  gates  of  his  enemies.  It  is 
plainly  fpoken  of  as  fuch  in  the  xlift  Ifaiah.  In  that 
chapter  is  foretold  the  future  glorious  vi6iory  the  church 
fhall  obtain  over  the  nations  of  the  world  ;  as  you  inay 
fee  in  verfes  i,  10,  15,  &c.  But  in  verfes  2,  and  3, 
this  victory  of  Abraham  is  fpoken  of  as  a  pledge  and 
earneft  of   the    vi6lory   of    the    church.       '  Who  raifed 

*  up  the  righteous  man  from  the  eafl,    called  him  to  his 

*  foot,  gave  the  nations  before  him,    and  made  him  rule 

*  over  kings  ?    He  gave  them  as  the  dufi:  to  tire  fvvord,  and 

*  as  driven  ftubble  to  his  bow.     He  purfued  them,  and 

*  paffed  fafely ;    even  by  the  way  that  he  had  not   gone 

*  with  his  feet.'   (x) 

(2.)  Another  remarkable  confirmation  Abraham  re- 
ceived of  the  covenant  of  grace,  was  when  he  returned 
from  the  flaughter  of  the  kings ;  when  Mekhifedec  the 
king  of  Salem,  the  prieft  ot  the  mofi:  high  God,  that 
great  type  of  Chrifi:,  met  him,  and  bleffed  Ijini,  and 
brought  forth  bread  and  wine,  (y)      The  bread  and  wine 

figni- 

(x)  The  righteous  man  from  the  east. 3  Some  explain  this  of 
Abraham,  others  of  Cytus  ;  "  I  rather  think  (fays  an  eminent  pre- 
late) that  the  former  is  meant,  becaufe  the  charafttr  of  the  righ- 
teous man  ....  agrees  better  with  Abraham  than  with  Cyrus. 
Befides,  immediately  after  the  defcription  of  the  fuccefs  given  by 
God  to  Abraham  and  his  pofterity,  (who,  I  prefume,  arc  to  be 
taken  into  the  account)  the  idolaters  are  introduced,  as  greatly 
alarmed  at  this  event.  Abraham  was  called  out  of  the  ealt ;  and 
his  pofterity  were  introduced  into  the  land  of  Canaan,  in  order  to 
deftroy  the  idolaters  cf  tliat  country;  and  they  were  ellablifiied 
there  on  purpofe  to  ftaad  as  a  barrier  againit  idolatry  then  prevail- 
ing, and  threatening  to  over-run  the  whole  face  of  the  earth.  Cy- 
rus, though  not  properly  an  idolater,  or  worfhipper  of  images, 
yet  had  nothing  in  hio  chai after  to  cauic.  fuch  an  alarm  among  the 
idolaters,"  ver.  5 — 7. [Bp.  Lowth  on  ver.  2.] 

(y)  Melchisedfc, /'W^'?  of  the  mcjt  high  God.']  Many  and 
oppofite  have  been  the  opinions,  both   of   Jewifh  and  Chrillian 

writers, 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       139 

fjgnifieth  the  fame  bleflings  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  that 
the  bread   aiid  wine  does  in   the  lacrament  of  the  Lord's 

flipper. 

writers,  on  this  extraordinary  character  ;  but  we  fhall  only  recite 
the  three  principal : 

1.  Moft  of  the  Jews,  and  many  very  learned  Chrillians,  under- 
fland  it  of  Shem,  who  it  fliould  fcem  by  the  facred  chronology, 
was  ftill  living. — But  to  this  it  has  been  replied,  that  Melchifedec 
was  not  of  that  family,  '  His  defcent  is  not  counted  from  them  ;' 
[Heb.  vii.  6.] — nor  could  Shem  be  faid  to  be  '  without  father  and 
'  mother,'  [Heb.  vii.  3. J  when  we  have  his  genealogy  from  Adani 
— nor  could  Levi  be  faid  with  any  more  propriety  to  pay  tithes  in 
Abraham,  than  to  receive  them  in  Shem,  hnce  he  v^as  as  truly  in 
the  loins  of  Shem,  as  in  thofe  of  Abraham — not  to  fay,  that  Abra- 
ham could  hardly  be  faid  to  fojourn  there,   '  as  in  a  llrange  coun- 

*  try,'  if  his  anceltor  Shem  were  king  of  it. 

2.  Many  expofitor^,  to  avoid  thefe  ditliculties,  have  fuppofed 
that  Melchifedec  and  Chrill  were  the  fame  perfon,  and  that  this 
appearance  mull  be  accounted  for  in  the  fame  manner  as  feveral 
others  under  the  Old  Teilamcnt. But  the  apolHe  feems  evi- 
dently to  diflinguifh  the  perfons,  in  making  the  former  a  type  of 
the  latter,  [Heb.  vii.  throughout]  and  in  affertiag  [ver.  6. J  that 
Chrift  was  a  prieft  '  after  the  order  of  Melchifedec' 

3.  We  therefore  think  it  fafcll:,  with  our  author,  and  many  other 
very  refpeftable  divines,  to  underltand  the  paffage  literally,  of  a 
great  prince,  perhaps  a  defcendar.t  of  Canaan,  who  reigned  ia 
Salem,  [not  Jerufalem,  as  fome  think,  but  rather  a  tov.-n  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Sodom,  perhaps  the  fame  called  Shalem,  in 
Gen.  xxxili.  18. — See  Gill  on  Gen.  xiv.  18.]  and  who  was  both 
a  king  and  prieft,  as  was  not  unufual  under  the  patriarchal  difpen- 
fation  ;  and  yet  more  diftlngulflied  by  his  piety  than  his  rank. 

*  Now'  faith  the  apoftle,  [Heb.  vii.  i — 5.]  '  conlider  how  great 

*  this  man  was,' — '  for  this  Melchifedec  [was]   king  of  Salem, 

*  [and]  prieft  of  the  moft  high  God  .  .  .  Without  fatiier,  without 
'mother,  without  defcent,  having  neither  beginning  of  days  nor 

*  end  of  life,  but  made  like  unto  tlic  Son  of  God,   [v/ho]  abidctli 

*  a  prieft  for  ever  ;'  /'.  e.  "  Of  whofe  father,  mother,  or  pedigree, 
there  is  no  mention  ....  (which  notes  him  to  be  no  prieft  by  de- 
fcent, as  the  Levitical  priefts  were,  and  accordingly  their  geneaolo- 
gies  were  preferved  cxatily)  as  neither  of  his  birth  nor  death  .  .  . 
and  fo  ftands  In  the  ftory^  as  a  kind  of  immortal  prieft  without  any 
fucceftbr  .  .  .  (perhaps  the  laft  prieft  of  the  true  God  In  Phrenlcla) 
this  Melchifedec,  I  fay,  was  in  all  this  an  emblem  of  Cinift  .  .  .  • 
the  King  of  Rightcoufnefs,  and  Prince  of  Pc;;ce."  [Hammond 
in  loc.     See  alfo  D'jddn(lge.'\ 

The  fa6l  feems  to  be,  that  Melehliedec  is  in  the  hiftory  intro- 
duced In  fo  abrupt  and  auguft  a  manner,  that  he  might  be  tiie 
more  fuitable  tvpe,  and  In  manv  refpe<5ts  prefigure  our  Lord  jefus 

Chrift, 


540        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

fupper.  So  that  as  Abraham  had  a  fcal  of  the  covenant  in 
circun^cifion  that  was  equivalent  to  baptifm,  fo  now  he 
had  a  feal  of  it  equivalent  to  the  Lord's  fupper.  And  Mel- 
chifedec's  coming  to  meet  him  with  fuch  a  feal  of  the  co- 
venant of  grace,  on  the  occafion  of  this  vi6lory,  evinces 
ihat  it  was  a  pledge  of  God's  fulfilment  of  the  fame  cove- 
nant ;  for  that  is  the  mercy  which  Melchifedec  takes  notice 
of.     [Gen.  xiv.  19,  20.] 

(3.)  Another  was,  the  vifion  that  he  had  in  the  deep 
ileep  that  fell  upon  Abraham,  of  the  fmoaking  furnace  and 
burning  lamp,  that  pafTed  between  the  parts  of  the  facri- 
fice,   [Gen.   xv.]  (z)      That  facrifice,  as  all  facrifices  do, 

figni- 

Chrift,  of  whom  tLefe  things  were  true,  in  a  fenfe  far  more  grand 
and  important. — Infinite  Redeemer  !  How  numberlefs  are  the  rays 
of  glory  that  form  thy  mediatorial  crown  !  How  are  all  the  excel- 
lencies of  the  moll  illullrious  charafters  blended  to  fhadow  thy 
fuperior  dignity!  [U.  S.J 

(z)  The  VISION  of  the  fmoaking  funince.~\  "The  order  and 
•form  of  Abram's  facrifice  dcfcribed  in  the  ninth  and  tenth  vei  fes 
3S  a  full  illuflration  of  the  meaning  of  the  words  ;  '  And  he  faid 

*  unto  him,  Take  me  a  heifer  of  three  years  old,  and  a  fhe  goat 

*  of  three  years  old,  and  a  ram  of  tliree  years  old,  and  a  turtle 

*  dove  and  a  young  pigeon.     And  he  took  unto  him  all  thefe,  and 

*  divided  them  in  the  midft,  and  laid  each  piece  one  againft  ano- 
"*  ther  :  but  the  birds  divided  he  net.'     And  '  the  Loid  made  a 

*  covenant,'  /.  e.  he  cut  afunder  or  divided  a  purifying  victim.  [See 
Note  (o)  p.  109.]  Abram  according  to  God's .comnland  took  an 
heifer,  a  flie  goat,  and  a  ram,  each  of  three  years  old,  flew  them  ; 
■divided  each  into  equal  parts  ;  placed  the  feparated  limbs  oppofite 
to  each  other,  leaving  a  paffage  between  ;  paffed  between  the  parts 
himfelf,  according  to  the  cuftom  of  tlie  facrifice  ;  and  when  the 
fun  was  down,  that  the  appearance  might  be  more  vifible  and  ftrik- 
ing,  the  JJ^echinah,  or  vifible  taken  of  God's  prefencc,  paiFcd  alfo 
between  the  divided  limbs  of  the  viftims,  as  a  fmoaking  furnace, 
and  a  burning  lamp  ;  tlie  final  ratification  of. this  new  treaty  be- 
tween God  and  Abram  ;  whereby  God  gracioully  became  bound 
to  give  Abram  a  fon  of  his  own  bowels,  who  ftiould  become  the 
father  of  a  great  nation,  and  the  progenitor,  after  the  flefh,  of  the 
great  Saviour  and  deliverer  of  the  human  race;  and  Abram  on  his 
part  bound  himfelf  to  a  firm  reliance  upon  all  God's  promifes,  and 
cheerful  obedience  to  all  his  commands.  Such  were  the  awful 
folemnitics  of  this  important  tranfactien They  were  evi- 
dently of  divine  inllitution,  for  God  honoured  them  with  his  pre- 

feuce. 

\ 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       141' 

fignified  the  facrifice  of  Chrift.  The  fmoaking  furnace 
that  paffcd    through  the    midlT:   of  that   facrifice  fignified 

the 

fence,  approbation,  and  acceptance  :  they  apparently  had  been 
long  in  ufc  before  this  period,  for  Abram,  without  any  particular 
inftrucllon,  prepares  and  performs  the  facrifice  ;  and  they  certainly 
continued  long  in  the  church  of  God  after  this  :  for  we  find  the 
practice  as  far  down  as  the  times  of  Jeremiah,  that  is,  about  the 
period  of  the  diffolution  of  the  Jewifli  monarchy.  The  paiTage 
ftrikingly  illuftrates  and  fupports  the  hiflory  of  Abram's  cove- 
nant and  facrifice [J^r.  xxxiv.    18 — 20.]   '  And 

*  I  will  give  the  men  that  have  tranfgrcfled  my  covenant,  which 

*  have  not  performed  the  words  of  the  covenant  which  they  had 

*  made  before  me,  when  they  cut  the  calf  in  twain,  and  pafled  be- 

*  tween  the  parts  thereof,  the  princes  of  Judali,  and  the  princes  of 

*  Jerufalcm,  the  eunuchs,  and  the  prieils,  and  all  the  people  of 

*  the  land,  which  pafleth  between  the  parts  of  the  calf ;  I  will  even 
'  give  them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  and  into  the  hand  of 

*  them  that  feek  their  life  ;  and  their  dead  bodies  fiiall  be  for  meat 
'  unto  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  the  beafts  of  the  earth.'  Now 
the  expreflions  here  employed,  of  '  polluting  ,God's  name,  tranf- 
'  grefiing  his  covenant,  and  not  performing  it,'  [fee  the  preceding 
context,]  and  the  threatened  puniihment  of  this  violation,  *  their 

*  dead  bodies  fliall  be  for  meat  unto  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and 
'  to  the  beafts  of  the  earth,'  explain  to  us  in  fome  meafure,  the 
meaning  of  thofe  folemn  ceremonies  with  which  covenants  were 
executed.  And  here  furely  it  is  not  unlawful  to  employ  the  lights 
which  are  thrown  on  this  fubjeft,  by  the  practice  of  the  Gentile 
nations,  and  the  writings  of  profane  authors.  From  them  we 
learn,  that  on  fuch  occafions  the  cuftom  was,  that  the  contrafting 
party  or  parties,  having  pafled  between  the  divided  limbs  of  the 
facrifice,  and  exprcffed  their  full  afient  to  the  ftipulated  terms  of 
the  agreement  or  covenant,  in  folemn  words,  pronounced  with  an 
audible  voice,  imprecated  upon  themlelves  a  bitter  curfe,  if  they 
ever  fliould  break  it.  '  As  I  ftrike  down  this  heifer,  or  ram,  fo 
'  may  God  ftrike  me  with  death,  if  I  tranfgrefs  my  word  and  oath.' 
'  As  the  limbs  of  tliis  animal  are  divided  afunder,  fo  may  my  body 

*  be  torn  in  pieces,  if  I  prove  perfidious.'  To  give  one  inftance 
of  many,  from  the  two  nations  alluded  to.  The  Greeks  and  the 
Trojans,  according  to  Homer,  having  agreed  to  determine  the 
great  quarrel  between  them,  by  the  iffuc  of  a  fingle  combat  be- 
tween the  two  rivals,  Menelaus  and  Paris,  the  terms  being  folemnly 
adjufted  and  confcntcd  to  on  .both  fides,  the  ratification  of  the 
covenant  is  thus  defcribed,  [Ilialf^  lib.  iii.    268.]   '  The  Grecian 

*  prince  drew  the  facrcd  knife,  cut  off  a  lock  of  wool  from  each  of 
•'  the  heads  of  the  devoted  lambs,  which  being  diftrlbuted  among 

*  the  princes  of  the  contending  paities,  he  thus,  with  hands  lifted 
-*  and  in  a  loud  voice  praved, 

*  O  firil 


142         HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

the  fufferings  of  Chrift  ;  but  the  burning  lamp  tliat  fal- 
lowed, which  Ihone  with  a  clear  bright  light,  fignities  the 

glory 

'  O  firft  and  greatefl:  Pow'r !   whom  all  obey, 

*  Who  high  on  Ida's  holy  mountain  fway, 

*  Eternal  Jove  !   and  you  bright  orb  that  roll 

*  From  eatl  to  weft,  and  view  from  pole  to  pole  ; 

*  Thou  mother  earth  !   and  all  ye  living  floods  ! 

*  Infernal  furies,  and  Tartarean  gods, 

*  Who  rule  the  dead,  and  horrid  woes  prepare 

*  For  perjur'd  kings,  and  all  who  falfely  fwear  ! 

*  Hear  and  be  witnefs.     If, [Pope.] 

*'  Then,  having  repeated  the  words  of  it  [the  covenant]  in  tht 
audience  of  all,  he  cleft  afunder  the  heads  of  the  confecrated  lambs, 
placed  their  palpitating  limbs  oppofite  to  each  other  on  the  ground, 
poured  facred  wine  upon  them,  and  again  prayed,  or  rather  im- 
precated : 

'  Hear,  mighty  Jove  !   and  hear,  ye  gods  on  high  !   ' 

*  And  niay  their  blood,  who  hrft  the  league  confound, 

*  Shed  like  this  wine,  diftain  the  thirfty  ground  : 

*  May  all  their  conforts  ferve  promifcuous  luft, 

'  And  all  their  race  be  fcattered  as  the  duft  !'  [Pope.] 

*'  Thus  when  it  was  agreed  to  fettle  the  conteft  for  empire  be- 
tween Rome  and  Alba  by  the  combat  of  three  youths,  biothers, 
on  either  fide ;  after  the  interpofition  of  ceremonies  fimilar  to  thofe 
which  have  been  defcribed,  the  Roman  prieil  who  prefided,  ad- 
dreffed  a  prayer  to  heaven  to  this  effect ;  '  Hear,  Father  Jupiter, 

*  hear.  Prince  of  Alba,   and  ye  whole  Alban   nation.     Whatever 

*  has  been  read  from  that  waxen  tablet,   from  firft  to  laft,  according 

*  to  the  plain  meaning  of  the  words,  without  any  refervation  what- 
'  ever,  the  Roman  people  engage  to  ftand  to,  and  will  not  be  the 
'  firft  to  violate.      If  with  a  fraudulent  intention,  and  by  an  aft  of 

*  the  ftate,  they  fliall  firft  tranfgrefs,  that  very  day,  O  Jupiter,  ftrike 

*  the  Roman  people,  as  I  to-day  fliall  ftrike  this  hog,  and  fo  much 

*  the  more  heavily,  as  you  are  more  mighty  and  more  powerful 

*  than  me.'  And  having  thus  fpoken,  with  a  fliarp  flint,  hedaftied 
out  the  brains  of  the  animal. 

"  Thus  in  the  three  moil  illuftrious  nations  that  ever  exifted,  we 
find  the  origin  of  their  greatnefs,  in  fimilar  ceremonies ;  empire 
founded  in  religion,  and  good  faith  fecured  by  the  fanction  of  fo- 
lemn  facred  rites.  And  is  it  not  pleafing  to  find  the  living  and 
true  God,  as  in  refpetl  of  maiefty  and  dignity,  fo  in  priority  of 
time,  taking  the  lead  in  all  tliat  is  great  and  venerable  among  men  ? 
We  find  Mofcs,  the  prince  of  facred  writers,  defcribing  a  religious 
iacrifice,  performed  by  Abram  one  thoufand  nine  hundred  and 
thirteen  years  before  Chrift,  which  the  prince  ot  heathen  poets  fo 
exaclly  defcribes  as  the  praftice  of  liis  own  country  upwards  of 

one 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       143 

glory  that  followed  ChrilVs  fuffcrings,  and  was  procured 
by  them. 

(4.)  Another  pledge  thai  God  gave  Abraham  of  the  ful- 
filment of  the  covenant  of  grace,  was  his  gift  of  that  child 
of  whom  Chrifl:  was  to  come,  in  his  old  age.  This  is 
fpoken  of  as  fuch  in  fcripture  ;  Heb.  xi.  11,  12.  and  al£b 
Rom.  iv    18,  &c. 

(5.)  Again,  in  his  delivering  Ifiac,  after  he  was  laid 
upon  the  wood  of  the  facritice  to  be  flain,    (a)    God  gave 

Abraham 

one  thoufand  years  later  :  and  which  the  great  Rdman  hiftorian 
relates  as  in  ufe  among  his  countrymen,  in  the  time  of  Tulius 
Hoftilius,  the  third  king  of  Rome,  before  Chrift  about  fix  hun- 
dred and  fixty-elght  years."  [Hunter's  Sac.  Biogr.  vol.  i.  lee. 
xiii.] 

(a)  Ifaac  laid  upon  the  wood  .  .  .  .  fo  be  sLAiy}.^  "Abraham 
(fays  Mr.  Hervey)  was  an  eminent  and  diiringuifhed  fervant  of 
the  Moll  High  God.  Favoured  with  peculiar  manifeftations  of 
the  divine  will,  and  dignified  with  the  honourable  title  of  his 
Maker's  friend.  Yet  even  this  man  is  harralfed  vvith  a  long  fuc- 
ceffion  of  troubles  ;  and,  which  was  reckoned  in  thofc  ages  the  mod 
deplorable  calamity,  goes  childlefs.  Long  he  waits,  worfhipping 
God  with  the  moli  patient  refignation.  At  length,  an  oracle  from 
the  Lord  gives  him  .  .  .  affurance  of  a  fon.  Joyfully  he  receives 
the  promife,  and  rcfts  in  humble  expeftation  of  its  accomplifhment. 
....  At  lad  the  handmaid  becomes  pregnant.  But  .  .  .  this 
is  the  fon  of  the  bondwoman,  not  of  the  free. 

"  How  afflicting  the  cafe  of  this  excellent  perfon  !  His  kinsfolk 
and  acquaintance  fee  their  olive  branches  flourifhlng  round  about 
their  tables.  Even  his  ungodly  neighbours  have  children  at  their 
delire,  and  leave  the  refidue  ofthelr  fubilance  for  their  babes.  But 
Abraham,  the  v/orfliipper  of  Jehovah,  the  favourite  of  heaven — 
this  Abraham  is  dcilitute  of  an  heir,  to  fupport  his  name,  to  pro- 
pagate his  family,  or  to  inherit  the  bl>;fling.  .  .  God  is  pleafcd 
to  renew  the  grant,  and  alfure  him  more  explicitly,  that  Sarah 
fhall  have  a  fon.  But  this  notice  comes  at  a  very-  late  period  in 
life  ;  when  Sarah  is  advanced  in  years,  and  too  old,  according  to 
the  courfe  of  nature,  to  conceive.      Flowever,  the  pious  patriarch 

*  daggers  not  through  unbelief ;  but  hopes  even  agaiad  hope.* 
£Rom.  iv.  18 — 20.] 

"  At  lad,  the  gift,  fo  earnedly  dcfircd,  is  vouchfafed.  Sarah 
has  a  child — 2^  Jon — an  Ij'aac.  One  who  ihould  be  a  fource  of  con- 
folation  and  delight  to  his  parents;  'Ihould  fill  their  mouth  with 

*  laughter,  and  ihelr  tongue  with  joy.'  With  tender  care,  doubt- 
lefs,  this  pleafant  plant  is  reared.  Many  prayers  are  put  up,  for 
his  long  life  and  great  happinefs.     The  fond  parents  v.atch  over 

U  ■   him. 


14+        HISTORY    OF    RE  D  E  MPT  I  O  IST. 
Abraham   another   confirmation    of  liis  faith   in   the   pro- 


mi 


fe 


him,  as  over  the  apple  of  their  own  eye.  Their  life  is  bound  up 
in  the  life  of  the  lad.      He  grows  in  grace,  as  lie  grows  in  ftature. 

Now,  mcthinks,  we  are  ready  to  congratulate  the  happy 

Sire  ;  and  flatter  ourfelves,  that  his  tribulations  have  an  end  .... 
But  '  let  not  him  that  girdcth  on  his  liarnefs,  boall  himfelf,  as  he 

*  that  putteth  it  off.'  Our  warfare  on  earth  is  never  accomplifhed, 
till  we  bow  our  head,  and  give  up  the  ghoft.  The  fliarpeft,  the 
fevereft  trial  is  Hill  behind. 

"  Abraham  ;  fays  God — Abraham  knows  the  voice.  It  is  the 
voice  of  condefcending  goodnefs.  He  had  often  heard  it  with  a 
rapture  of  delight.  Inftantly  he  replies,  '  Here  I  am.  Speak, 
'  Lord  ;  for  thy  fervant  is  all  attention.'  Hoping,  no  doubt,  to 
receive  fome  frefn  manifellatiou  of  the  divine  good-will  to  himfelf 
and  his  family  ;  or  fome  new  difcovery  of  the  method,  in  which 
the  divine  "Wifdom    would  accomplini  the  prcmlfes — '  I  will  mul- 

*  tiply  thy  feed — I  uIU  make  thy  feed  as  the  duit  of  the  earth. — 
'  In  thy  feed  fliall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be  bleffed.' 

"  Take  thy  fon  ;  adds  God.  And  might  net  Abraham  rea- 
fonably  expedf ,  that,  iince  his  fon  was  arrived  to  years  of  maturity, 
he  fliould  be  direfced  now  to,  fettle  him  in  the  world  with  honour 
and  advantage  ?  .  .  .  He  is  commanded,  not  barely  to  take  \\\^fon, 
but  his  only  fon  ;  his  fon  Ifaac,  whavahs  Icveil .  .  .  Mull  not  fuch 
an  introdu6lion,  fo  remarkably  endearing,  heighten  his  expecta- 
tion of  lome  fi-gnal  mercy  to  be  conferred  on  the  beloved  youth  ? 
And  would  it  not  render  the  blefiing  .  .  .  more  than  doubly  wel- 
come ? 

"  V\7^as  he  not  then  ftartled  ?  Was  he  not  horribly  am.azed  ? 
When,  indead  of  feme  renewed  expreffion  of  the  Divine  favour,  he 
received  the  following  orders  :  '  Take  now  thy  fon,  thy  only  ion, 
'Ifaac,  whom  thou  lovelt,  and  get  thee  into  the  land  of  Moriah, 

*  and  offer  hmi  there  for  a  burnt  offering,  upon  one  of  the  moun- 
'  tains  which  I  will  tell  thee  of.'  Was  ever  defcriptioft  fo  affeft- 
ing,  or  meffage  fo  alarming  !  .  .  .  .  Every  word  in  this  injunftion 
foftens  and  entenders  the  parent's  heart,  and  at  the  fam.c  time 
fliarpens  tlie  arrow,  that  mxUc  pierce  it  through  and  through. 

"  Abiaham,  take  thy  fon,' — Who,  but  Abraham,  could  have 
forborti  remonllrating  and  pleading  on  fuch  an  occafion  ? — Ana- 
nias, being  charged  with  a  commifTion  to  Saul  tlie  perfecutor,  takes 
upon  him  to  argue  the  cafe  v^'itll  his  Almighty  Sovereign. — 

*  Lord,  I  have   heard  by  many  concerning  this  man,  how  much 

*  evil  he  hath  done  to  l.hy  faints  at  Jerufalem  ;  and  here  he  hath 
'  authoiity  from  the  chi=ef  priefts  to  bind  all  that  call  upon  thy 
'name.'  [At'f  s  ix.  13,  14.]  Thus  Ananias.  With  how  much 
greater  appearance  of  reafon  might  Abrajiam  have  replied? 

'  L,ord,  have  I  not  already  left  my  country ;  left  my  kindred, 
'  and,  at  thy  command,  left  my  father's  houfe  ?  And  wilt  thou 

'  now 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       145 

■mife  that  God  had  made  of  Chrlfl:,  tliat  lie  fl\ould  he  oF 

Ifaac's 

now  bereave  me  of  my  child  ?  Mud  I  part,  not  with  fomc  ad- 
mired folly  or  darling  vanity,  but  witli  the  moft  worthy  objeft 
of  a  rational  affeftion  ;  indeed  with  my  only  remaining  confo- 
lation  ? — Shall  I  be  deprived  of  my  child,  almoft  as  fmn  as  I 
have  received  him  ?  Didfl:  thou  give  him  only  to  tantalize  thy 
fervant  ?  Remember,  gracious  God  !  the  name  he  bears.  How 
fhall  he  anfwer  its  cheering  import  i*  How  fhall  he  be  a  fourcc 
of  fatisfaftion  to  his  parents,  or  the  father  of  many  nations,  if 
thou  takefthim  away  in  his  unmarried  ftate,  and  the  very  prime 
of  his  years  ? 

*  If  fin  lies  at  the  door,  let  me  expiate  the  guilt.  Let  th.ou- 
fands  of  rams,  let  erery  bullock  in  my  ftalls  bleed  at  thy  altar. 
My  wealth,  moft  mightv  Lord,  and  all  my  goods,  are  nothing- 
in  comparifon  of  my  Ifaac.  Command  me  to  be  fl ripped  of 
my  poffcllions  ;  command  me  to  roam  as  a  fugitive  and  a  vaga- 
bond in  the  earth,  and  I  will  blefs  thy  holy  name.  Only  !>.t  my 
child,  my  dear  child,  be  fpared. 

*  Or,  if  nothing  will  appeafe  thy  indignation  but  human  blood, 
let  my  death  be  the  facrifice  ;  upon  me  be  the  vengeance.  I  am 
old  and  grey-headed.  The  beft  of  my  days  are  pall:,  and  the  bell: 
of  my  ferviccs  done.  If  this  tottering  wall  tumbles,  there  will 
belittle,  or  no  can  fe  for  regret.  But,  if  the  pillar  of  my  houfe, 
and  the  fupport  of  my  family — if  he  be  fnatched  from  me,  what 
good  will  my  life  do  rae  ?  *  0  my  Son  !  my  Son  !  ivouJd  God  I 
might  die  for  thee. ^      \_z  Sam.  xviii.  33.] 

'  If  it  mufc  be  a  blooming  youth,  in  the  flower  of  his  days,  be 
pleafed,  moft  merciful  God,  to  fcleft  the  vicftim  from  fome  fruit- 
ful family.  There  are  thofe,  who  abound  in  Children.  Chil- 
dren are  multiplied  unto  them  ;  and  though  many  were  removed, 
yet  would  their  table  be  full.  There  art  thofe,  who  have  flocks 
and  herds  ;  whereas,  I  have  «nly  this  one  little  lamb  ;  the  very 
folace  of  my  foul,  and  the  ftay  of  my  declining  years.  And  fliall 
this  be  taken  away,  while  all  tly^fe  are  left  ?     [2  Sam.  xii.  3.] 

*  Yet,  if  he  mujl  die,  and  there  is  no  remedy  ;  may  he  not  at 
leaft  expire  by  a  natural  difTolution  ?  May  not  fom.e  common  dif- 
temper  unloofe  the  cords  of  life,  and  lay  him  down  gently  in 
the  tomb  ?  May  not  his  fond  mother  and  mvfelf  feal  his  clofing 
eyes,  and  foften  his  dying  pangs  by  our  tender  ofHces  V 

No,  Abraham.      Thy  fon  muft  be  flauglitertd  on  the  altar.  .  .  . 
The  facrihcing  knife,  and  not  any  common  difeafe,  ftiall  bring  him 

to  his  end It  is  the  liOrd's  will,  tliat  he  be  cut  in  pieces  ; 

cinfumed  to  aflies  ;  and  made  a  burnt  offering '  But   rf 

*  all  muft  be  executed  ;  God  forbid,  that  I  fnould  behold  the  dif- 
-*  mal  tragcdv  !  ....  O!  let  it  be  far,  far  from  tlie  f:ght  of  thcfe 
'  eyes!' 

U  2  "  Even 


146         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION, 

Ifaac's  polterity  ;  and  was  a  representation  of  the  refur- 

red:ion 

*'  Even  this  mitigation  cannot  be  granted.  Thou,  Abraham, 
rnuft  fee  him  flain. — Nay ;  thou  muR  be  the  executioner  of  thy 
Ifaac=      Is  not  the  wretched  father  ftunned  and  thnnderftruck  ? . .  . 

"  Nature  recoils  at  the  very  thought  !  How  then  can  the  bell 
of  fathers  perform  the  deed  ? — How  lliall  he  anfwer  it  to  the  wife 
ofhisbofom,  the  mother  of  the  lovely  youth  ?  ....  Will  flie  not 
have  leafon  to  reproach  Abraham,  and  fay  in  the  anguifla  of  lier 
fpirit,  *  A  bloody  huiband  haft  thou  been  to  me. — [Exod,  iv.  i<^-'\ 
How  can  he  juftify  it  to  the  ivorla?  They  will  never  be  perfuaded 
that  the  God  of  goodnefs  can  delight  in  cruelty,  or  authorize  fo 

horrid  an  action. Might  not  thoufands   of  fuch  confide- 

rations  crowd  into  his  thoughts,  and  rack  his  very  foul  ? 

"  But  God  is  unchangeable.  Pofitive  is  his  word,  and  muft 
be  obeyed.  Obeyed  immediately  too.  Take  wow  thy  fon.  The 
Lord's  command  requireth  fpeed.  .  .  .  This  the  patriarch  knew. 
Therefore  he  waits  not  for  a  fecond  injunftion.     He  confults  not 

With  flefli  and  blood But,  without  a  murmuring  word, 

without  a  moment's  delay,  fets  forward  on  his  journey. 

'■^  And  canft  thou,  Abraham,  canft  thou  perlill  in  thy  purpofe  ? 
Is  not  this  child  the  heir  of  the  prom ifes,  both  tempo- 
ral, and  fpiritual,  and  eternal  \ — Is  not  the  great  MefTiah,  whofe 
day  thou  haft  fo  paffionately  defired  to  fee  ;  whofe  perfon  is  the 
hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  is  not  that  great  Mefliah  to 
fpring  from  his  loins?  From /w  loins,  whom  thou  art  about  to 
kill; — The  bk'fimg,  thou  knoweft,  is  appropriated  to  him.  The 
grand  entail  is  fettled  upon  him — upon  Ifaac  by  name — upon  Ifaac 
alone,  if  he  perifii,  all  is  loft. — Canft  thou,  then,  alone  blow, 
deftroy  the  life  of  thy  fon  ;  facrifice  all  thy  earthly  joys  ;  and  cut 
oft' the  hopes  of  the  whole  world: — Will  none  of  thefe  confide - 
rations  difcourage,  difliiade,  deter  thee  ? 

"  Moft  triumphant  faith  indeed  !  defervcdly  art  thou  ftyled, 
The  Father  of  the  Faithful.  Thy  faith  is  ftroiiger  tlian  all  the 
ties  ofaffeftion;  ftronger  than  all  the  pleas  of  nature;  ftronger 
than  all  the  terrors  of  death — of  a  death,  in  its  circumftances  and 
in  its  confequenceg,  incomparably  more  dreadful  than  thv  own. 

"  Now  muft  he  travel  during  three  tedious,  and,  one  would 
think,  moft  melancholy  d-nys.  .  .  '  On  the  third  day,  Abraham 
*  lift  up  his  eyes,  and  law  the  place  afar  off"!' — Doleful  fight !  ,  .  . 
Does  not  the  profpedl  alarm  all  his  tender  paffions  ?  No,  it  only 
awakens  hiscircumfpedlion.  The  fervants  are  commanded  to  ad- 
vance no  farther  .  .  .  .  He  himfelf,  with"  the  fire  and  the  knife  in 
his  hands  ;  and  his  fon,  with  the  burden  of  wood  on  his  Ihouldcrs, 
went  both  of  them  together. — Who  docs  not  pity  the  dear  devoted 
youth,  toihng  under  that  load  which  muft  foon  reek  with  his  blood, 
and  foon  reduce  him  to  alhes  ? — Mean  while  the  intended  vidxim, 
wondering  to  fee  ail  theie  preparations  rnadc,  ar.d  no  proper  ani- 
mal 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       147 

reilion  of  Chrill; ;  [fee  Heb.  xi.  17--19.]  And  becaufc 
this  was  given  as  a  confirmation  of  the  covenant  of  grace, 

therefore 

nial  near,  afl<s  this  pertinent  queftion;  '  My  father,  behold  the 

*  fire  and  the  wood  !  but  where  is  the  Iamb  for  a  biirnt-ofFerine?' 
Nothing  could  be  more  tender  and  moving  than  this  fpeech  ; 
which  difcovered  fuch  a  knowledge  of  religion,  and  fuch  a  con- 
cern for  its  duties.  Will  not  this  roufe  the  father's  anguifli,  and 
fhake  his  determination?  How  can  he  be  the  death  of  fo  much 
innocence,  and  fo  much  piety? 

"  Faith  overcomes  all  difficulties.  Unmoved  and  inflexible  the 
Patriarch  replies,  •  God  will  provide  liimfelf  a  lamb  for  a  burnt- 

*  offeiing,  my  fon.'  He  hides  the  awful  tidings  from  the  inquiii- 
tive  youth,  left  they  ihould  be  too  lieavy  and  aftlidlve  for  him  lo 
bear.   .  .   . 

*  And  they  came  to  the  place  whicli  God  had  told  him  of.' — 'Tis 
a  mountain.  Far  from  the  refort  of  men.  A  doleful  folitude  in- 
deed! ....  'Abraham  builds  an  altar  there'  ....  and  .  .  .  that 
every  thing  may  be  tranfafted  with  the  utmoft  decorum,  he  lays 
the  wood  in  order.   .   .   . 

"  Every  thing  is  now  ready  for  the  moft  aftonifliing  and  dread- 
ful adt  of  obedience  that  men  or  angels  ever  beheld.  And  now 
Abraham  difclofcs  the  llartling  fecret — *  Didft  thou  inquire  con- 

*  cerning  the  lamb  ?     Thou  thyfcIF,  my  dear  ciiild,  art  the  Ir.mb 

*  provided  for  the  burnt-offering.      Be  not  amazed.      Let  not  thy 

*  heart  fail.  Tlie  God  who  bellowed  thee  on  my  longing  defires, 
'  is  pleafcd  to  icquire  thee  again  at  my  hand — the  Lord  gave,  and 

*  the  Lord  taketh  away  ;  let  us  both  adore  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

*  Let  us  confide  in  hispromifedgoodnefs,  and  unanimoufly  profefs, 
"  Thoi;,n;h  he  flay  me,  yet  will  I  truft  in  him." 

"  It  does  not  appear  that  the  amiable  youth  rcfifted  or  gainfayed. 
He  had  ftrength  enough  to  oppofe,  and  fpeed  enough  to  efcape, 
the  attempts  of  an  aged  father.  [According  to  Jofephus,  Ifaac 
was,  when  he  fnbmitted  himfclf  to  the  flaughter,  about  twenty-five 
years  old.]  Either,  or  both  of  which,  the  law  of  felf-prefervation 
might  feem  to  diAate,  and  the  light  of  reafon  to  juilify.  But 
Ifaac  knew  that  his  father  was  a  prophet.  In  this  prophetical 
charaftcr,  he  fees  and  acknowledges  the  wairant  of  heaven  ;  a;;d 
fince  his  Creator  calls,  he  is  content  to  go.   .   .   . 

"  Nevcrthelefs,  that  the  work  of  delHny  may  be  Aire,  and 
no  one  particular  relating  to  a  facrifice  omitted,  Abraham  binds 
Ifaac  his  Ion  ....  Having  bound  him — furpilfing  refolntion!  — 
bound  liiin  for  the  fword  and  for  the  flame,  he  lays  him  upon  the 
altar  on  the  wood. — I'hcre,  now,  lies  Ifaac;  the  dear,  the  duti- 
ful, the  religious  Ifaac  !  Abraham's  joy  ;  Sarah's  delight ;  the 
heir  of  the  prcmifes!  There  he  lies,  all  meek  and  i-efigned,  ex- 
pelling, every  mom.ent,  the  ftroke  of  death  to  fall  ....   See!   the 

father 


148         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

therefore  God  renewed  that  covenant  with  Abraham  on  this 
occaficn.    Gen.  xxii.  j^,  6i;c.    (b) 

Thus 

father  ...  *  ftretches  forth  his  hand;'  he  hfts  the  fiiarpened  fteel ; 
and  determined  to  finifn  at  a  blow,  is  even  now  aiming — when — 
lejoice,  O  ye  worfliippers  of  a  gracious  God !  .  .  .  .  the  Angel  of 
the  covenant  fpeaks  from  heaven,  and  withholds  the  Patriarch's 
hand,  in  the  very  aft  to  rtrike.  God,  who  only  intended  to  mani- 
feft  his  faith,  and  make  it  honourable,  bids  hiro  do  no  harm  to  the 
lad.  Yea,  God  applauds  his  obedience,  and  fubftitutes  another 
facrifice  in  Ifaac's  ftead;  renews  his  covenant  with  the  father,  and 
not  only  I'eprieves  the  life  of  the  fon,  but  promifes  him  a  nume- 
rous and  illuilrious  ijfue — Promifes  to  make  him  the  progenitor  of 
the  Mcffiah,  and  thereby  a  blefiing  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
[Ther.  and  Afp.   vol.  iii.  Ictt.  2.] 

(b)  I  fane  ivas  a  type  of  ChriJI,  raifed  from  the  clead.'\  "  So 
faith  the  apoftle,  [Heb.  xi.  19.]  Abraham  received  his  fon  Ifaac 
'from  the  dead  '  in  a  figure,'  \_xct.i  a  '^o.^aQoXn']  '  even  in  ?.  parable,' 
type,  or  n^yilical  reprefcntation.  [vSee  Wolfius,  Curre  Philolog. 
vol.  iv.  p.  762.  &  Com.  Heb.  ix.  5.3  A  farther  illullration  of 
tliis  may  be  taken  from  the  hillory  of  this  event  in  Genefis  [xxii. 
14.  J  wh.cre  AVjraham  calls  the  name  of  the  place  where  he  at- 
tempted to  pffer  his  fon,  fehoimh  'J'lreh.  One  thing  muft  be  pre- 
mifed,  that  the  Hebrew  word  there  uCed,  if  wc  wave  the  ?uthority 
of  the  points,  may  be  taken  cither  aftiveiy  or  pafiiveiy.  Abraham, 
when  his  fon  had  inquired  for  the  burnt-oiTering,  replied,   '  God 

*  will  provide  himfelf,'  or  rather  will  fe,  looh  out,  for  himfelf  a 
buint-offering — Now,  in  ver.  14,  Abraham  ufes  the  fame  word, 
fuid  God  having  wonderfully  provided  a  buiUt-ofFcring,  inflead  of 
Ifaar,  he  names  the  place  as  it  {i;iov!ld  fcem  v/ith  a  reference  both 
to  this  event,  and  a  future  one  reprefented  by  it,  *  The  Lord 

*  will  fee,'  as  our  tranflators  render  it  in  the  margin  ;  /'.  e.  will 
provide  for  his  people,  in  wiiatever  ftraight  they  may  be,  as  he 
had  done  for  Abraham  in  this  fore  trial.  So  it  is  laid  to  this  day, 
is  become  a  proverb,  '  In  the  mount  the  Lord  will  fee  ;'  the  fame 
word  as  before.      Hut  tiic  v\-ords  may  be  taken  pafiiveiy;  '  The 

*  Lord  will  appear,'  i.  e.  vifibly,  he  will  be  feen.  Tiius  Ifaac  in- 
quiring for  the  facrifice,  Abraham  replies,  '  God  will  appear  for 

*  it,'  /.  e.  to  point  it  out  in  fuch  a  manner  as  fiiall  leave  us  in  no 
doul:)t  or  d:fhcir:y  to  feek  it — Ths-'ii  he  calls  the  name  of  the  place 

*  Tlie  Lord  will  appear,'  or  be  feeii  ;  and  from  this  a  tradition 
arofe,  that  in  that  mount  the  Lord  would  appear,  (or  he  feen) 
which  had  the  moft  literal  and  exaft  accomplirnment  in  Solomon's 
temple  being  ercfted,  and  afterwards  th'e  S;jn  of  God  crucified 
thereon.  Taken  eltlier  way,  the  words  are  beautifully  fignificant; 
and  as  they  run  uniformly  ambiguous,  we  conceive  ourielves  v^•ar- 
ranted  to  include  both  fcnTes,  tlujugh  wc  may  not  be  able  to  prove 

that 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       149 

Thus  you  fee  how  mnch  more  fully  the  covenant  of  pjacc 
was  revealed  and  confirmed  in  Abraham's  time  than  it  Ind 
been  before;  by  means  of  which  Abraham  feems  to  ha\e 
had  a  clearer  un.lerrcanding  and  fight  of  Chrilt,  the  great 
Redeemer,  and  the  future  things  that  were  to  be  accom- 
plilhcd  by  him,  than  any  of  t!\c  faints  preceding  him  ;  and 
ihercfove  Chrifc  informs  us,  tliat  '  Abraham  rejoiced  to  fee 
'  his  day,  and  he  faw  it,  and  was  glad.'  [John  viii.  56.] 
So  great  an  advance  did  it  pleafe  God  now  to  make  in  this 
building,  wiiich  he  had  been  carrying  on  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war-Id. 

3.  The  next  tiling  that  I  would  take  notice  of  here, 
is  God's  preferring  tlie  patriarchs  fo  long  in  the  midft  of 
the  wicked  inliabitants  of  Canaan,  and  from  all  other 
enemies.  The  patriarchs  Abiaham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob, 
were  thcfe  of  whom  Chriit  was  to  proceed  ;  and  they 
were  now  feparated  from  llie  world,  that  in  them  the 
clnnxh  might  be  upheld  :  therefore,  in  preferving  them, 
the  great  defign  cf  redemption  was  carried  on.     He  pre- 

fcrved 

that  Abraham  fo  intended  them  ;  fiace  often  things  were  fpoken 
by  a  prophetic  fpirit,  which  even  the  fpeaker  did  not  at  the  time 
fully  undertbnd.  [See  John  xi.  5 1.]  Thus  explained,  the  words 
will  afford  the  following  remarks  : 

1.  That  the  fame  truths  which  are  now  taught  us  iu  plain  literal 
terms,  were  formerly  revealed  to  the  Old  Tcftarnent  believers  in 
figures  and  tvpes.  Thus  were  they  enabled  to  look  forward  to  a 
promifed  Redeemer  by  the  fame  faith  with  which  we  view  him 
already  come  and  crucified. 

2.  There  is  a  clofe  conne-dlion  between  the  v/orks  of  Pi'ovidence 
and  Redemption.  The  one  often  (as  our  author  has  in  many  in- 
ftances  fiiewn)  prefiguring  the  other.  Ifaac  mufc  have  been  in 
Abraham's  view  as  dead,  and  he  probably  entertained  no  hope  of 
his  being  faved  by  a  refurre£lion;  and  this  event  was  carried  to  the 
lalt  extrk-mity,  net  jucr^Iy  for  the  trial  of  Abraham's  faitii,  but  alfo 
to  be  the  fitter  type  of  Chrift  raifed  from  the  dead.  Let  us  learn 
to  view  every  providence  in  this  conneclion,  as  fubordinate  to  th- 
great  ends  of  redemption  :  and  rcil  afTured,  tliat  fince  God  has 
provided  a  faerifice  in  the  perfon  of  '  his  own  fon,'  he  will  '  with 
'  him  air»  freely  give  us  all  things.'      [Rom.  viii.  32.] 

3.  What  liroug  confolation  may  a  believer  derive  from  this  hit- 
tory  to  confirm  and  animate  his  faitlii'  Though  ilie  Lord  fhould 
fuffer  us  to  be  tried  to  the  utmoit,  yet  in  the  point  of  extremity 
he  will  appear  and  fave."  [G.  E.] 


i^o        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

lei  ved  tliem,  and  kept  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  where 
they  fojourned  from  deftvoying  them  ;  which  was  a  re- 
markable difpenfation  of  Providence  :  for  the  inhabitants 
of  the  land  were  at  that  day  exceedingly  wicked,  though 
they  grew  more  wicked  afterwards.  This  appears  by 
Gen.  XV.  i6.  '  In  the  fourth  generation  they  fliall  come 
'  hither  again  ;  for  the  iniquity  of  the  Canaanites  is  not 
*  yet  lull :'  as  much  as  to  iay,  Though  it  be  very  great, 
it  is  not  yet  full.  And  their  great  wickednefs  alfo  appears' 
bv  Abraham  and  Ifaac's  avcrfton  to  their  children  marrvinsr 
any  of  the  daughters  of  the  land.  Abraham,  when  he 
was  old,  could  not  he  content  till  he  had  made  his  fcrvant 
fwear  that  he  would  not  take  a  wife  for  his  fon  of  the 
daughters  of  the  land.  And  Ifaac  and  Rebecca  were  con- 
tent to  fend  away  Jacob  to  fo  great  a  diilance  as  Padan- 
Aram,  to  take  him  a  wife  thence.  And  when  Efau  mar- 
ried fome  of  the  daughters  of  the  land,  we  are  told,  that 
they  were  a  grief  of  mind  to  Ifaac  and  Rebecca.  [Gen* 
xxvi.  35.] 

Anotlier  argument  of  their  great  wickednefs,  was  the 
inftances  we  have  in  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  Adniah  and 
Zeboim,  which  were  fome  of  the  cities  of  Canaan  though 
t/iey  were  probably  more  eminently  wicked. 

And  they  being  thus  wicked,  were  likely  to  have  the 
moft  bitter  enmity  againfl  thefe  holy  men  ;  agreeable  to 
what  was  declared  at  iirfl,  '  I  will  put  enmixy  between 
'  thee  and  the  woman,  and  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed.' 
Their  holy  lives  were  a  continual  condemnation  of  their 
■wickednefs.  And  belides,  it  could  not  be  otherwife,  but 
that  they  muft  be  much  in  reproving  their  wickednefs,  as 
we  fmd  Lot  was  in  Sodom  ;  who,  we  are  told,  vexed  his 
righteous  foul  with  their  imlawful  deeds,  and  was  a  preacher 
of  righteoufnefs  to  them. 

And  they  were  the  more  expofed  to  them,  being  Gran- 
gers and  fojourners  in  the  land,  and  having  no  inheritance 
there  as  yet.  Men  are  more  apt  to  find  fault  with  ftran- 
gers,  and  to  be  irritated  by  any  thing  in  them,  as  they 
were  wiih  Lot  in  Sodom.  He  very  gently  reproved  their 
wickednefs ;    and  they  fay  upon  it,  •'  This  fellow  came  in 

«  to 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       151 

«  to  fojourn,    and  he  will  needs  be  a  ruler  and  a  judge ,' 
and  threatened  what  they  would  do  to  him. 

But  God  wonderfully  preferved  Abraham  and  Lot,  and 
Ifaac  and  Jacob,  and  their  families,  amongll  them,  though 
they  were  few  in  number,  and  they  miglit  quickly  have 
defiroyed  them  ;  which  is  taken  notice  of  as  a  wonderful 
inflance  of  God's  preferving  mercy  toward  his  church, 
[Pf.  cv,  12,  &c.]    '   When  they  were  but  a  few  men  in 

*  number ;    yea,    very  few-,    and   ftrangers  in  it.      When 

*  they  went  from  one  nation  to  another,  from  one  king- 

*  dom  to  another  people  ;    he  fufFered  no  man  to  do  them 
'  wrong  ;    yea,  he  reproved  kings  for  their  fakes,  faying, 

*  Touch    not   mine  anointed,    and    do   my    prophets    no 

*  harm.' 

This  prefervatlon  was  in  fome  inftances  very  remark- 
able ;  thofe  inflances  that  we  have  an  account  of,  where- 
in the  people  of  the  land  were  greatly  irritated  and  pro- 
voked ;  as  they  were  by  Simeon  and  Levi's  treatmciif 
of  the  Sechemitcs,  [Gen.  xxxiv.  30,  &c.]  God  then 
ftrangely  preferved  Jacob  and  his  family,  reftraining  the 
provoked  people  by  an  unufual  terror  on  their  minds, 
[Gen.  XXXV.  5.]  '  And  the  terror  of  God  was  upon  the 
'  cities  that  were  round  about  them,  and  they  did  not 
'  purfue  after  the  fons  of  Jacob.' 

And  God's  preferving  them,  not  only  from  the  Ca- 
naanites,  is  here  to  be  taken  notice  of,  but  his  preferving 
them  from  all  others  that  intended  mifchief  to  them  :  thus 
his  preferving  Jacob  and  his  campany,  when  purfued  by 
Laban,  full  of  rage,  and  a  difpofition  to  overtake  him  as 
an  enemy  ;  God  met  him,  and  rebuked  him,  and  faid  to 
him,  '  Take  heed  that  thou  fpeak  not  to  Jacob  either  good 
'  or  bad.'  [Gen.  xxxi.  24.]  How  wonderfidly  did  he  alio 
j)referve  him  from  Efau  his  brother,  when  he  came  forth 
with  an  army,  with  a  full  defign  to  cut  him  off!  How 
did  God,  in  anfwcr  to  his  prayer,  when  he  wrelllcd  with 
Cliriil:  at  Penuel,  wonderfully  tuin  Efau's  heart,  and  make 
him,  inftead  of  meeting  him  as  an  enemy,  with  {laughter 
and  dcflruction,  to  meet  him  as  a  friend  and  brother,  doing 
hiin  no  harm 

X  And 


jyz        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

And  thus  vv-eie  this  handful,  this  little  root  that  had  the. 
bicfling  of  the  Redeemer  in  it,  prelerved  in  the  midft  of 
enemies  and  dangers ;  which  was  not  unlike  to  the  preferv- 
ing  the  ark  in  the  midft  of  the  tempeftuous  deluge. 

4.  The  next  thing  I  would  mention  is,  the  awful  de- 
ll-ru6tion  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  the  neighbouring 
cities.  This  tended  to  promote  the  great  defign  and  work 
that  is  the  fubje6l  of  my  prefent  undertaking,  two  ways. 
It  did  fo,  as  it  tended  powerfully  to  reftrain  the  inhabitants 
of  the  land  from  injuring  thofe  holy  ftrangers  that  God 
had  brought  to  fojourn  amongfl  them.  Lot  was  one 
of  thofe  ftrangers  ;  he  came  into  the  land  with  Abraham  ; 
and  Sodom  was  deftroyed  through  their  difregard  of  Lot, 
the  preacher  of  righteoufnefs  that  God  had  fent  among 
them.  And  their  deftru6lion  came  juft  upon  their  com- 
mitting a  moft  injurious  and  abominable  infult  on  Lot, 
and  the  ftrangers  that  were  come  into  his  houfe,  even 
thofe  angels,  whom  they  probably  took  to  be  fome  of  Lot's 
former  acquaintance,  come  from  his  own  country  to  vifit 
liim.  They  in  a  moft  outrageous  manner  befet  Lot's 
houfe,  intending  a  monftrous  abufe  ot  thole  ftrangers  that 
were  come  thither,  and  threatening  to  ierve  Lot  worfc 
than  them. 

But  in  the  midft  of  this  God  fmote  them  with  blind- 
nefs,  and  the  next  morning  the  city  and  the  country 
about  it  was  overthrown  in  a  moft  terrible  ftorm  of  lire 
and  brimftone  ;  which  dreadful  deftrudtion,  as  it  was  in  the 
light  of  the  reft  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  and  there- 
fore greatly  tended  to  rcftrain  tlienv  from  hurting  thofe 
holy  ftrangers  any  more ;  it  doubtlefs  ftruck  a  dread  and 
terror  on  their  minds,  and  made  them  afraid  to  hurt  them, 
and  probably  was  one  principal  means  to  reftrain  them, 
and  preferve  the  jjatriarchs.  And  when  that  reaion  is 
given  why  tlie  inhabitanis  of  the  land  did  not  purfue  after 
Jacob,  when  tliev  were  fo  provoked  by  the  deftrucStion 
of  the  Shechemites,  viz.  '  that  the  terror  of  the  Lord  was 
'  upon  them,'  it  is  very  probable  that  this  was  the  terror 
referred  to.  T'hcy  remembered  tbe  amazing  deftruclion 
of  Sodom,  and   the  cities  of  the   plain,    that  came   upon 

them , 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       155 

them,  upon  their  abufive  treatment  of  Lot,  and  fo  durft 
not  hurt  Jacob  and  his  family,  though  they  were  fo  muc  h 
provoked  to  it. 

Another  way  that  this  awful  deftrudlion  tended  to  pro- 
mote this  great  affair  of  redemption,  was,  tliat  hereby  God 
did  }emarkably  exhibit  the  terrors  of  liis  law,  to  make  men 
fenhble  of  their  need  of  redeeming  mercy.  The  work  of 
redemption  never  was  carried  on  without  this.  The  law, 
from  the  beginning,  is  made  ufe  of  as  a  fchoolmafler  to 
bring  men  to  Chrift.   [Gal.  iii.  24.] 

But  under  the  Old  Teflament  there  was  much  more 
need  of  fome  extraordinary,  viilblc,  and  fcnfible  mani- 
feftation  of  God's  wrath  againft  hn,  tlian  in  the  days  of 
the  gofpel ;  fince  a  future  ftate,  and  the  eternal  mifery  of 
hell,  is  more  clearly  revealed,  and  finte  the  awful  juftice 
of  God  againft  the  fms  of  men  has  been  fo  wonderfully 
difplayed  in  the  fufFerings  of  Chrill.  And  therefore  the 
revelation  that  God  gave  of  himfelf  in  thofe  days,  ufed 
to  be  accompanied  with  much  jnore  terror  than  it  is  in 
thefe  of  the  gofpel.  So  when  God  appeared  at  Mount 
Sinai  to  give  the  law,  it  was  with  thunders  and  lightnings, 
and  a  tliick  cloud,  and  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceetling 
loud.  But  fomc  external,  awful  manifeftations  of  God's 
wrath  againfl;  fin  were  on  fome  accounts  efpecially  necef- 
iary  before  the  giving  of  the  law  :  and  therefore,  before 
the  flood,  the  terrors  of  the  law  handed  down  by  tradition 
from  Adam  fervcd.  Adam  lived  nine  hundred  and  thirtv 
years  himfelf,,  to  tell  the  church  of  God's  awful  thrcaten- 
jngs  denounced  in  the  covenant  made  with  him,  and  how 
dreadful  the  confequences  of  the  fall  were,  of  which  he 
was  an  eye-witnefs  and  fubjecSl ;  and  others  that  converled 
with  Adam,  lived  till  the  flood.  And  the  dcftruftion  of 
the  world  by  the  flood  ferved  to  exhibit  the  terrors  cf  the 
law,  and  manifefl  the  wrath  of  God  againft  fin  ;  and  fa 
to  make  men  fenfible  of  the  ablolute  necelfity  of  redeeming 
mercy.  And  fome  that  h\v  the  llood  were  alive  in  Abra- 
ham's time. 

But  this  was  now  in  a  great  meafure  forgotten  ;  now 
tiicreforc    God    was    pleafed    again,     in    a    \v.o{\    amazing 

X  2  manner. 


154        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

manner,  to  fnow  his  wrath  agnlnfl:  fin,  in  the  deflruftion 
of  tliefc  cities  :  which  was  after  fuch  a  manner  as  to  be 
the  livehefl:  image  of  hell  of  any  thing  that  ever  had  been ; 
and  therefore  the  apoftle  Jude  fays,  '  They  fufl'er  the 
'  vengeance  of  eternal  fire.'    [Jude  7.]     God   rained   (c) 

ftorms 

(c)  Sodom  dejlroyed  by  lightning.]  "  This  perfectly  agrees 
with  fcripture  account,  which  commonly  denominates  lighlning^ 
'  the  fire  of  God.'  [See  Lev.  ix.  24.  2  Kings  i.  10 — 12.]]  And 
lightning  is  always  attended  with  a  fulphuroiis  fmell  ;  and  from 
this  clrcum-ftarace,  its  coming  from  God,  the  Greeks  call  brimilone 
[0»of,  7.  e.'\  divine.  [See  Le  Clerc\  Diflert.]  But  there  are  two 
circumftances  cf  more  importance  to  be  obferyed  ;  God's  feverlty 
to  his  enemies,  and  his  mercy  and  kindnefs  to  his  people:  of  each 
of  thefe  v/e  have  two  remarkable  inftanccs. 

*'  To  begin  with  God's  judgment  againfl  Sodom,  which,  as  our 
author  has  obfeived,  affords  the  moft  ftriking  figure  of  hell  that 
ever  was  exhibited.  In  vain  Ihould  we  ftretch  our  imaginations  to 
conceive  the  horror  of  a  deluge  of  fire  poured  dowufrom  heaven. 
Human  nature  flirlnks  from  it,  as  too  tairlfic  a  fubjeft  for  con^ 
templation. — But  let  us  turn  to  the  caufe  of  this^«,  which 

'  Brought  death  into  the  v/ovld  and  all  our  woe!' 
This  winged  the  dreadful  lightning,  and  pointed  the  fatal  thunder- 
bolt— and  we  may  obferve,  that  God  often  fends  a  punilliment 
correlpondent  to  the  nature  of  our  fins ;  as  in  the  inftance  before 
us,  they  who  burned  with  unnatural  luil  periflied  in  the  flames  of 
divine  difplesfure.  *  For  our  God  is  a  confuming  fire.'  [Heb. 
xii.  29.] 

"  But,  if  not  more  dreadful,  there  is  fomething  peculiarly  ftrik- 
ing, in  the  death  of  Lot's  wife — flic  had  efcaped  the  pollution 
and  dcftruftion  of  the  city; — fhe  had  obeyed  the  angel's  voice,  and 
fled  for  fafety; — but,  alas!  her  heart  was  wedded  to  the  world. 
She  fled,  indeed,  but  with  lingering  fl:cps,  and  a  heavy  heart.  She 
would  gladly  return,  it  ftiould  feem,  to  live  in  eafe  and  hixury  in 
Sodom,  notwithftanding  flie  couUl  not  be  altefted  with  Its  charac- 
teriflic  fm,  rather  than  enjoy  a  (late  of  holy,  but  obfcure,  retire- 
ment. Alas!  how  many  that  have  bidden  fair  (as  we  fay)  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  have  fallen  fliort,  from  the  fame  principles  of 
covctoufncfs  and  pride!  Let  us  '  remember  Lot's  wife.'  [Luke 
xvii.  32.] 

*'  But  this  Providence  has  two  voices;  a  voice  of  mercy  as  well 
as  of  terror;  to  impenitent  finners  it  [peaks  in  rattling  tliunder, 
like  that  at  Sinai;  to  believing  penitents,  with  -^iJmaU,  full,  but 
articulate  accent. 

*  Shall  I  hide  from  Abraham,  faith  God,  tliat  thing  which  I  do?' 
[Gen.xviii.  I7,&c.]  Ble (Fed  Abraham,  the  friend  of  God,  the 
advocate  of  men! — '  The  feeret  of  the  Lord  is  with  thera  that  fear 

*  him, 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       155 

fliorms  of  fire  and  brimftone  upon  them.  The  way  thnt 
they  were  deftroycd  probably  was  by  thick  flalhes  of  liglit- 
ning.  The  ftreanis  of  brimftone  were  fo  tliick  as  to  burn 
up  all  thefe  cities  ;  fo  that  they  perifhed  in  the  flames.  By 
this  might  be  feen  the  dieadful  wrath  of  God  againll  the 
ungodlinefs  and  unrightcoufncfs  of  men  ;  which  tended  to 
ihow  men  the  neceffity  of  redemption,  and  fo  to  promote 
that  great  work. 

5.  God  again  renewed  and  confirmed  the  covenant  of 
grace  to  Ifaac  and  to  Jacob.  He  did  fo  to  Ifaac,  [Gen. 
xxvi.  3,  4-]  '  And  I  will  perform  the  oath  which  T  fware 
'  unto  Abraham  thy  father  ;   and  I  will  make  thy  feed  to 

*  multiply  as  the  ilars  of  heaven,  and  will   give  unto  thy 

*  feed  all  thefe  countries  ;   and   in   thy   feed   Ihall   all    the 

'   nations 

*  him,  and  he  will  fhew  them  his  covenant.'  [Pf.  xxv.  14.]  The 
Lord  comes  to  Abraham,  and  acquaints  him  with  his  defign  of  in- 
flifting  exemplary  juftice  ;  but,  fays  Abraham,  '  Will  God  deftroy 
'  the   righteous  with  the  wicked  .-"  No,  '  that  be  far  from  the 

*  Lord  !'  The  whole  converfatlon  between  Abraham  and  God, 
is  left  on  record,  and  difplays  the  fineft  fentimcnts  of  reverence, 
piety  and  humanity  in  the  patriarch  ;  and  on  the  part  of  Deity  an 
harmonious  combination  of  juftice,  mercy,  and  otlier  attributes 
worthy  the  divine  nature. 

*'  But  before  the  judgment  can  be  executed,  Lot  muft  be  deli- 
vered ;  *  I  can  do  nothing,'  fays  the  commifTioned  angel,  [Gen. 
xix.  22.]    '  till  thou  art   gone  hence.'     Thus,   *   In  the  midft  of 

*  judgment,  he  remembers  mercy;'  and  live  righteous  perfons 
would  have  faved  the  deftrudlion  of  five  cities.  Little  do  the 
world  conceive  the  blefTings  they  enjoy  through  God's  people  be- 
ing mingled  with  them  ;  but  experience  will  (hew  them.  When 
God  has  '  gathered  his  wheat  into  his  garner,  then  rtiall  the  chafF 
'  be  burnt  with  unquenchable  fire.'  [Matt.  iii.  12.]  When  al! 
his  cle6l  people  are  faved  ;  the  reprobate  fliall  perifh  with  a  difTolv- 
ing  world  ; 

O  power  fupremc  ! 

O  everlafting  King  !    To  thee  I  kneel ; 
To  thee  I  lift  my  voice.     With  fervent  heat 
Melt,  all  ye  elements!   And  thou,  high  hcav'n, 
Shrink  like  a  fliriveU'd  fcroll.      But  think,  O  Lord  ! 
Think  on  the  heft  and  noblell  of  thy  works  ; 
Think  on  thine  own  bright  image  ;  think  on  Lim 
Who  dy'd  to  fave  us  from  thy  righteous  wrath, 
Apd,  midll  th^  wreck  of  worlds,  remember  man  !"  [Glynn.] 

[U.  U.] 


iS6        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

*■  nations  of  the  earth  be  bleffed.'  And  afterwards  it  was 
renewed  and  confirmed  to  Jacob  ;  firft,  in  Ifaac's  blefling 
of  him,  wherein  he  a£led  and  fpoke  by  extraordinary  and 
divine  dire6lion.  In  that  bieffing  the  bleflings  of  the  co- 
venant of  grace  were  eftabliflied  with  Jacob  and  his  feed  ; 
[as  Gen.  xxvii.  29.]   '   Let  people  ferve  thee  ;  and  nations 

*  bow  down    to  thee ;  be  lord  over  thy  brethren,  and  let 

*  thy  mother's  fons  bow  down  to   thee  :  Curfed  be  every 

*  one  that  curfeth   thee,  and  bleffed   be   he  tliat   bleffeth 

*  thee.'  And  therefore  Efau,  in  miffing  of  this  bleffing, 
miffed  of  being  bleffed  as  an  heir  of  the  benefits  of  the  co- 
venant of  grace. 

This  covenant  was  again  renewed  and  confirmed  to  Ja- 
cob at  Bethel,  by  his  vifion  of  the  ladder  that  reached  to 
heaven  ;  which  ladder  was  a  fymbol  of  the  way  of  falva- 
tion  by  Chrifi:.  (d)  For  the  ffone  that  Jacob  refted  on 
was  a  type  of  Chrifi:,  the  ftone  of  Ifrael,  which  the  fpiri- 
tual  Ifrael  or  Jacob  refls  upon  ;  as  is  evident,  becaufe  this 
ftone  was,  on  this  occafion,  anointed,  and  was  made  life  of 
as  an  altar.  But  we  know  that  Chrift  is  the  anointed  of 
God,  and  is  the  only  true  altar.  Vv^hile  Jacob  was  refting 
on  this  ftone,  and  faw  this  ladder,  God  appears  to  him  as 
his  covenant  God,  and  renews  the  covenant  of  grace  with 
him  ;   [Gen.  xxviii.    14.]   '   And  thy  feed  ftiall  be  as  the 

*  duft  of  the  earth  ;   and  thou   ilialt  fpread  abroad   to  the 

*  weft,  and  to  the  eaft,  and  to  the  north,  and  to  the  fouth  ; 

*  and  in   thee  and  in  thy  feed  iliall  all  the  families  of  the 

*  earth  be  bleffed.' 

And 


(d)  'Jacoh's  ladder  typical.]  This  vifion,  in  wliatcvcr  partl- 
cuiar  point  of  view  we  confidcr  it,  wa;>  a  muil  beautiful  diiplay  of 
the  communication  opened  between  heaven  and  earth,  tlnough 
the  medium  of  a  Redeemer.  Its  extending  from  eaitli  to  heaven, 
points  out  a  way  of  accefs  to  God  for  fallen  man.  The  various 
ileps  mark  the  progrefs  of  the  divine  life,  and  the  walk  of  a  be- 
liever, every  ilcp  of  which  approaches  nearer  heaven  and  gloiy- 
The  angel's  afcending  and  delcending  iliews  the  office  of  thole  mi- 
nillering  fpirits,  in  performing  embaifies  of.kindnefs  for  us.  And 
the  Lord  fianding  above,  and  renewing  hir>  covenant,  may  teach 
us,  that  all  its  bleliingR  r.re  beilowed  in  that  means  of  communica- 
tion, namely,  througl;  the  nxxliation  of  the  Son  of  God.     [U.  S.] 


FROM  ABRAHAiMs  CALL  TO  MOSES.       157 

And  Jacob  liaJ  anorher  remavlcable  confirmation  of 
this  covenant  at  Pcnuel,  where  he  wiefilcd  with  God, 
and  prevailed  ;  (e)  where  Chrift  appeared  to  him  in  a 
human  form  ;  in  the  form  of  that  nature  which  he  was  af- 
terwards to  receive  into  a  perfonal  union  with  his  divine 
nature. 

And  God  renewed  his  covenant  with  him  again,  after 
he  was  come  out  of  Padan-aram,  and  was  come  up  to  Be- 
thel, and  the  rtone  that  he  had  refted  on  ;  and  where  he 
had  the  vifion  of  the  ladder.   [Gen.  xxxv.  10.  &c.] 

Thus  the  covenant  of  grace  was  now  often  renewed, 
much  oftener  than  it  had  been  before.  The  light  of  tlie 
gofpel  now  began  to  fiilne  much  brighter,  as  the  time  drew 
nearer  that  Chrift  ihould  come. 

6.  The  next  thing  I  would  obfcrve,  is  God's  remark- 
ably preferving  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  proceed 
from  perilhing  by  famine,  by  the  inftrumentality  of  Jo- 
seph, (f)  When  there  was  a  feven-years  famine  approach- 
ing, God  was  pleafed  by  a  wonderful  providence,  to  fend 
Jqfeph  into  Egypt,  there  to  provide  for,  and  feed  Jacob 
and  his  family,  and  to  keep  the  holy  feed  alive,  which 
otherwife    would    have    perifhed.      Jofepli    was    fent   into 

Egypt 

(e)  Jacob  WRESTLED  iv'ith  the  nnge/.^  "  Jacob  was  now  paf- 
fing  with  his  whole  family  into  the  land  of  Canaan,  to  take  feizure 
of  it,  by  virtue  of  the  promife  on  the  behalf  of  his  poltcrity.  At 
the  very  entrance  of  it,  he  is  met  by  his  greatcfl:  adverfary,  with 
whom  he  had  a  fevere  conteft  about  the  promife  and  the  inheri- 
tance itfelf.  This  was  his  brother  Efau,  who,  coming  againll 
him  with  a  power  which  he  was  no  ways  able  to  withftand,  he  fear- 
ed that  he  would  utterly  deftroy  both  his  perfon  and  pofterity. 
....  Wherefore  to  fettle  Jacob's  right,  to  preferve  him  with  \m 
title  and  intcrcfl,  /v  who  was  principally  concerned  in  t'le  whole 
matter,  doth  here  appear  unto  him."  [Dr.  Owen's  Exerclta- 
tions  on  the  Hebrews,  vol.  i.  p.  118.]  But  this  and  the  other 
extraordinary  appearances  of  a  divine  perfon  under  the  OldTefta- 
ment,  will  be  colleftively  confidered  under  a  future  fe(5lion. 

(f)  JofcJ)//s  hijlory  remarlal'Ic;.]  Few  lives  in  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment  hillory  ate  fo  interclling  as  that  of  Jofeph  ;  in  which  the 
mod  obfervable  feature  is  its  frequent,  fudden,  and  important  vi- 
ciflitudes.  And  v.e  may  truly  fay,  his  life  was  of  as  many  colours 
,83  his  coat.      Li  youth  the  darling  or  his  parents ;— but  the  envy 


158        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Egypt  for  that  end,  as  he  obferves,  [Gen.  1.  20.]  '  But 
'  as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  againft  me  ;  but  God  meant 
'  it  unto  good  to  f;ve  much  people  alive.'  How  often  had 
this  holy  root,  that  had  the  future  branch  of  r,ighteoufnefs, 
the  glorious  Redeemer,  in  it,  been  in  danger  of  being  de- 
flroved  !   But  God  wonderfully  prcferved  it. 

This  falvation  of  the  houfe  of  Ifrael  by  the  hand  of 
Jofeph,  was   upon    feme    accounts   very   much    a  refem- 

blance 

of  his  brethren.  Sold  into  Egypt  for  a  flave  ;  made  fteward  of 
hismafter's  houfe  ;  thrown  into  prifon  on  a  falfe  but  criminal  ac- 
ciifation  ;  raifed  from  a  prifon  to  a  throne  ;  honoured  as  the  father 
even  of  Pharaoh,  the  faviour  of  Egypt,  and  the  favourite  of  hea- 
ven ;  he  faves  the  lives  and  raifcs  the  fortunes  of  his  father,  and 
of  thofe  very  brethren  who  hated  and  fold  him  ;  and  clofes  his  life 
with  honour,  happinefs,  and  tranquility. 

But  among  the  many  incidents  of  his  life,  no  one  is  more  re- 
markable or  inftruftive  than  that  of  his  temptation  to  inchaftity, 
and  the  manner  in  which  he  refifted  it.  On  this  our  author  has 
clfewhere  the  following  obfervations  : 

"  We  may  obferve,  how  great  the  temptation  was,  that  lie  was 
under.  It  is  to  be  confidered,  Jofeph  was  now  in  his  youth  ;  a 
feafon  of  life,  when  perfons  are  moft  liable  to  be  overcome  by  temp- 
tations of  tin's  nature.  And  he  was  in  a  ftate  of  unexpe6led  prof- 
perity  in  Potiphar's  houfe  ;  which  has  a  tendency  to  hft  perfons 
up,  efpeciallv  young  ones,  whereby  commonly  they  more  eafily 
fall  before  temptations. 

*'  And  then  the  fuperiority  of  the  perfon  that  laid  the  tempta- 
tion before  him,  rendered  it  much  the  greater.  She  was  his  inif- 
trefs,  and  he  a  fervant  under  her.  And  the  manner  of  her  tempt- 
ing him.  She  did  not  only  carry  herfelf  fo  to  Jofeph,  as  to  give 
him  caufe  to  fufpeft  that  he  might  be  admitted  to  fuch  criminal 
converfe  with  her,  that  yet  might  be  accompanied  with  fome  ap- 
prehenfion,  that  poflibly  he  might  be  miftaken,  and  fo  deter  him 
from  adventuring  on  inch  a  propofal ;  but  flie  directly  propofed 
it  to  him  ;  plainly  manifelling  her  difpofition  to  it.  .  .  .  Yea,  fhe 
appeared  greatly  engaged  in  the  matter.  And  there  was  net  only 
her  dcfne  manifefted  to  entice  him,  but  her  authority  over  him  to 
enforce  the  temptation.  She  was  his  miftrefs,  and  he  might  well 
imagine,  that  it  he  utterly  refufed  a  compliance,  he  fliould  incur 
her  difpleafure  ;  and  flie,  being  his  mailer's  wife,  had  power  to 
do  much  to  his  difadvantage,  and  to  render  his  circumftanccs 
more  uncomfortable  in  the  family.  And  the  temptation  was  the 
greater,  in  that  ftie  did  not  only  tempt  him  once,  but  frequently, 
day  by  day,  [Gen.  xxxix.  10.]  And  at  lad  became  more  violent 

with 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.      159 

blance  of  the  falvation  of  Chrift.  The  children  of  Tf- 
rael  were    faved   by  Jofeph   their    kinfman    and    brother, 

from 

with  him.  She  caught  him  by  his  garment,  faying,  *  Lie  with 
me  :'  as  in  the  verfe  of  the  text.      []Gcn.  xxxix.  1 2.] 

"  His  behaviour  was  very  remarkable  under  thefe  terfiptationS. 
He  complied  in  no  degree,  either  to  the  grofs  act  fhe  propofed, 
or  any  thing  tending  towards  it,  or  that  fhould  in  a  lefTer  degree 
be  gratifying  to  her  wicked  inclination.  And  he  pcrfilled  refolute 
and  unfhaken  under  her  continual  folicitations.      '  And  it  came  to 

*  pafs  as  Ihe  fpake  to  Jofeph  day  by  day,  that  he  hearkened  not 

*  unto  her,  to  lie  by  her,  or  to  be  with  her.'  He,  to  his  utmoft^ 
avoided  fo  much  as  being  where  (lie  was.  And  the  motives  and 
principles  from  which  he  aifhed,  manifclled  by  his  reply  to  her  fo- 
licitations,  are  remarkable. 

"  He  tirll  fets  before  her,  how  injurioufly  he  fhould  aft  againfl 
his  mafter,  if  he  fhould  comply  with  her  propofal :   *  Behold  my 

*  mailer — hath  committed  all  that  he  hath  in  my  hand  :   there  is 

*  none  greater  in  this  houfe  than  I  ;    neither  hath  he  kept  back 

*  any  thing  from  me,  but  thee,  becaufe  thou  art  his  wife.'  But 
he  then  proceeded  to  inform  her  of  that,  which  above  all  things, 
deterred  him  from  a  compliance,  viz.  that  it  would  be  great  wick- 
ednefs,    and   fm  againft   God. — '  How  (hall  I   do  this,   and  fin 

*  againft  God!'  He  would  not  do  any  fuch  thing,  as  he  would  not 
injure  his  mafter;  but  that  which  influenced  more  than  all  on  this 
occafion,   was  the  fear  of  finning  againft  God. 

*'  In  the  text  we  have  an  account  of  his  behaviour  under 
the  laft  and  greateft  temptation  that  he  had  fiom  her.  This 
temptation  was  great,  as  we  are  told  it  was  at  a  time  when  there 
was  no  body  in  the  houfe,  but  he  and  his  miftrefs,  [ver.  1 1.]  there 
was  an  opportunity  to  commit  the  fa6f  with  the  greateft  fecrecy. 
And  at  this  time  it  feems  that  fhe  was  more  violent  than  ever  be- 
fore. She  '  caught  him  by  the  garment' — ftie  laid  hold  on  him, 
as  though  (he  were  refolute  to  attain  her  purpofe  of  him. 

"  Under  thefe  circnmftances  he  not  only  refufed  her,  but  fied 
from  her,  as  he  would  have  done  from  one  that  was  going  to  affaf- 
finate  or  murder  him ;  he  efcaped,  as  for  his  life.  He  not  only 
would  not  be  guilty  of  fuch  a  faft,  but  neither  would  he  by  any 
means  be  in  the  houfe  with  her,  where  he  fhould  be  in  the  way 
of  her  temptation. 

"  This  behaviour  of  Jofeph  is  doubtlefs  recorded  for  the  in- 
ftruftion  of  all.  Therefore  from  the  words  I  fliall  obferve  this 
dodrine — '   It  is  our  duty,  not  only  to  avoid  thefe  things  that  are 

*  themfelves  finful,  but  alfo,  as  far  as  may  be,  thofe  things  that 

*  lead  and  expofe  to  fin.' 

"  Thus  did  Jofeph  :  he  not  only  refufed  aftually  to  commit 
uncleannefs  witli  his  miilrefs,  who  inticedhim;  but  refufed  .... 
to  lie  bv  her,  or  be  with  her.     And  in  the  text  we  are  told,  *  he 

y  «  fled 


i6o        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

from  peiifliing  by  famine ;  as  he  that  faves  the  fouls  of 
the  fpi ritual  Ifrael  from  fpiritual  famine  is  their  near  kinf- 
man,  and  one  that  is  not  alhamed  to  call  them  brethren. 
Jofeph  was  a  brother,  that  they  had  hated,  and  fold, 
and  as  it  v.ere  killed;  for  they  had  defigned  to  kill  him; 
So  Chrift  is  one  that  we  naturally  hate,  and  by  our 
wicked  lives,  have  fold  for  the  vain  things  of  the  world, 
and  that  we  have  flain  by  our  fms.  Jofeph  was  iirfl;  in 
a  ftate  of  humiliation ;  he  was  a  fervant,  as  Chrift  ap- 
peared in  the  form  of  a  fervant ;  and  then  was  caft  into 
a  dungeon,  as  Chrift  defcended  into  the  grave  ;  and  then, 
when  he  rofe  out  of  the  dungeon,  he  was  in  a  ftate 
of  great  exaltation,  at  the  kings  riglu  hand  as  his  depu- 
ty, to  reign  over  all  his  kingdom,  to  provide  food,  to 
preferve  life  ;  as  Chrift  was  exalted  at  God's  right  hand 
to  be  a  prince  and  faviour  to  his  brethren,  and  received 
gifts  for  men,  even  for  the  rebellious,  and  them  that  hated 
and  had  fold  him.  f 

n.  After  this  there  was  a  prophecy  given  forth  of 
Chrift,  on  fome  accounts,  more  particular  than  ever 
any  had  been  before,  even  that  which  was  in  Jacob's 
bleffing  his  fon  Judah,  this  was  more  particular  in  Ihew- 
\x\o-  of  whofe  pofterity  he  was  to  be.  When  God  called 
Abraham,  it  was  revealed  that  he  was  to  be  of  Abraham's 
pofteritv-  Before  we  have  no  account  of  any  revelation 
concerning  Chrift's  pedigree  confined  to  narrower  limits 
than  the  pofterity  of    Noah :    atter  this  it  was  conlined  to 

limits 

'  fied  and  got  him  out ;'  would  by  no  means  be  in  her  company. 
Though  it  was  no  fm  in  itfelf,  for  Jofeph  to  be  in  the  houle  where 
his  miltrefs  was  ;  but  under  tliefe  ciicumllances  it  would  expofe 
him  to  fin.  Jofeph  was  fenfible  he  had  naturally  a  corrupt  heart, 
that  tended  to  betray  him  to  fin  ;  and  therefore  he  would  by  no 
means  be  in  the  way  of  temptation  ;  but  with  hade  he  fled,  he 
ran  from  the  dangerous  place.  Inafmuch  as  he  was  expofed  to  fin 
in  that  houfe  where  he  was,  he  fled  out  of  it  with  as  much  haile 
as  if  the  houfe  had  been  all  a  light  of  fire  ;  or  full  of  enemies,  wha 
ftood  ready  witli  drawn  fwords  to  ftab  him  to  the  very  heart.  When 
{lie  took  him  by  the  garment,  he  left  his  garment  in  her  hands  :  he 
had  rather  lofe  his  garment  than  Hay  a  moment  where  he  was  in 
fuch  danger  of  lofing  his  chaftity."  [P^ef.  Edwakds's  Poftli. 
Serm.  p.  150,  kc.'\ 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       i6i 

llmifs  ftill  more  narrow  ;  for  though  Abraham  had  many 
fons,  yet  it  was  to  be  revealed  that  Chrill:  was  to  be  of 
Ifaac's  pofterity.  And  then  it  was  Hmited  more  ftill :  for 
when  Ifaac  had  two  fons,  it  was  revealed  that  Chrift  was 
to  be  of  Ifracl's  pofterity.  And  now,  though  Ifrael  had 
twelve  fons,  yet  it  is  revealed  that  Chrift  was  to  be  of  Ju- 
dah's  pofterity:  Chrift  is  '  the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.' 
Refpedt  is  chiefly  had  to  his  great  a£ls,  when  it  is  faid, 
[Gen.  xlix.  8,9.]  '  Judah,  thou  art  he  whom  thy  brethren 
'  fhall  praife  ;     thine  hand   ftiall  be  in  the  neck  of  thine 

*  enemies  ;  thy  father's  cliildren  Ihall  bow  down  before 
'  thee.     Judah  is  a  lion's  whelp  ;   from  the  prey,  my  fon, 

*  thou  art  gone  up:  he  ftooped  down,  he  couched  as  a  lion, 
'  and  as  an  old  lion;  who  I'hall  roufe  him  up  ?'  And  then 
this  predi6lion  is  more  particularly  concerning  the  time  of 
Chrift's  coming,   [verfe  10.]     *  The  fceptre  fhall  not  de- 

*  part  from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from   between  his  feet, 

*  iintil  Shiloh  come  ;  and  unto  him  ihall  the  gntherinpr  of 
'  liie  people  be.'  The  prophecy  here,  of  the  calling  of  the 
Gentiles  confequent  on  Chrift's  coming,  feems  to  be  more 
plain  than  had   yet  been,   in  the  exprefliion,   '  to  him  fliall 

*  the  gathering  of  the  people  be.'   (g) 

Thus 


(g)  "Jacob's prophecy  0/"  Shiloh.]  "  This  remarkable  pafTage 
(fays  Mr.  Toplady)  is  a  link  of  that  grand  chain  of  prophecv, 
which  was  delivered  by  the  patriarch  Jacob,  on  his  dying  bed. 
Such  are  the  faithfulnefs  and  the  condefcending  grace  of  God, 
that  he  frequently  brightens  the  laft  hours  of  his  people,  with  the 
richcfl;  difplays  of  his  power  and  prefence  :  nor  does  any  thing, 
fhort  of  heaven  itfelf,  afford  a  nobler  hght,  than  that  of  a  believer 
(landing  on  the  verge  of  eternity,  filled  with  the  faith  which  cafls 
out  fear,  happy  in  the  aflured  poffeffion  of  grace,  and  h)nging  for 
the  completion  of  that  grace  in  glory. 

"  For  we  find  him  [chap,  xlviii.  21.]  fpeaking  of  his  own  ap- 
proaching death,  with  as  much  eafe  and  complacency,  as  if  he 
was  only  fetting  out  on  a  journey  of  pleafure  :  '  Ifrael  faid  unto 
*  Joleph,  Behold,  I  die.'  He  perceived  the  fymptoms  of  advanc- 
ing diffolution  :  and  the  profpccl  conduced,  not  to  alarm  his 
fears,  not  to  rivet  aim  clofer  to  the  world;  but  operated  like  the 
fliining  of  the  fun,  or  the  breathings  of  zephyr,  on  a  flower. 
It  expanded  his  hone  ;    enlarged  his  defire  for  heaven  ;    and  dif- 

Y  2-  fufed 


i62  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Thus  you  fee  how  that  gofpel-Iight  which  dawned  imr 
mediately  after  the  fall  of  man,  gradually  increafed. 

8.  The 

fiifed  the  fragrance  of  his  faith,  on  all  within  the  fphere  of  his 
donverfation. 

"  Ae,  greatly  as  this  ertiinent  faint  longed  to  be  diffblved,  and  to 
be  with  Chrift;  he  would  not  die,  until  he  had  taken  a  folemn  leave 
of  his  family,  by  bleffing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  by 
predicting  the  fate  of  their  pofterities.  At  prefent,  I  fiiall  only 
confider  his  laft  addrefs  to  Jydah,  his  fourth  fon.  '  Judah,  thou  art 
'  he,  whom  thy  brethren  fhall  praife;'  i.  e.  thy  tribe  fhall  be  the 
moft  confpicuous  and  diftinguifhed,  on  various  accounts.  In  that 
portion  of  Canaan,  which  fliall  fall  to  thy  defcendants  and  to  thofe 
of  Benjamin,  the  city  of  Jerufalem  fhall  be  built,  and  the  temple  of 
God  fhall  ftand.  But  chiefly  fhalt  thou  be  celebrated,  as  the  proge- 
nitor of  that  fpotlefs  mother,  from  whom  the  Son  of  God  fhall  derive 
his  inferior  nature:  and,  within  the  near  neighbourhood  of  thy  ter- 
ritory fhall  he  fuffer  and  expire,  for  the  falvation  of  his  people. 

"  But  the  moft  valuable  part  of  the  prophecy  is  that  which  re- 
lates to  the  incarnation  of  Jefus  Chrift  :     '  The  fceptre  fhall  not 

*  depart  from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet,   until 

*  Shiloh  came;  and  to  him  fhall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be.' 

"  Of  all  regal  ornaments,  the  fceptre  is  faid  to  be  the  moft  an- 
cient. And,  probably,  its  OTigin  was  extremely  fimple.  It  feems 
to  have  taken  its  rife  from  the  crook,  wielded,  in  earlieit  times, 
by  the  harmlefs  hand  of  a  fhepherd.  The  Greek  word  \_'ZKr,Tp.^ov~\ 
(from  whence  the  Latin  fceptrum,  and  the  Englifh  fceptre,)  pro- 
perly denotes  a  ftafF,  or  wand,  of  fufficient  length  for  a  perfon  to 
lean  upon  :  and  the  Hebrew  [tD^IZ/]  is  in  ftridtnefs  a  ftaff  made  of 
a  fhoot  or  ftrait  bough  of  a  tree.  Such  as  were  the  ftaves  of  the 
primitive  fhepherds  and  herdfmen. 

"  By  that  fceptre,  which,  for  a  given  time,  was  not  to  depart 
from  Judah,  is  undoubtedly  meant,  the  adminiftration  of  tempo- 
ral power.  Hence  the  Septuagint  render  the  pafTage,  A  fupreme 
governor  fhall  not  fail  out  of  Judah;  ....  till  the  MefTiah's  ad- 
vent. The  words,  fceptre,  and  lawgiver,  are  here  explicatory  of 
each  other;  and  mutually  denote,  a  ferles  of  native  governors,  who 
fhould  rule  the  Jewifh  nation  according  to  its  own  law.  And  the 
fenfe  of  the  whole  is,  that  Judah  fhould  continue  a  diftinft  tribe 
by  itfelf;  and  that  its  civil  jurIfdi(R:ion  fhould,  under  fome  form  or 
other,  and  with  a  greater  or  lefs  degree  of  authority,  remain  in 
Jewifh  hands,  till  the  incarnation  of  God  the  Son 

*'  On  this  illuftrions  prophecy,  uttered  almoft  eighteen  hun- 
dred years  before  the  birth  of  Chrift,  prophrne  hiftory  may  be 
confidered  as  the  beft  commentary.  We-thcre  find,  that  the  fcep- 
tre did  (not  adlually  depart,  but)  begin  to  depart  from  Judah,  or 
verge  towards  a  departure,  within  little  more  than  half  a  century 

prior 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       163 

8.  The  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  in  this 
period,  in   God's   wonderfully  preferving  the   children  of 

Ifrael 

prior  to  our  Lord's  nativity,  when  Jerufalem  was  beficged  and 
taken  by  Pompey  ;  and  Ariftobulus  II.  then  king  of  Judea,  was 
fent  prifoner  to  Rome. 

"  As  the  manifeftation  of  God  in  human  flefh  drew  nearer,  the 
fymptoms  of  the  departing  fceptrc  grew  ftill  more  vifible.  The 
fucceflive  expeditions  of  Gabinius,  of  Craffus,  and  of  CaiTius, 
againft  this  devoted  people,  contributed  to  prepare  the  way  for 
the  fulfilment  of  Jacob's  prediftion  ;  and,  in  fad,  proclaimed,  that 
Shiloh  would  fomi  appear. 

"  The  fceptre,  however,  was  not,  hitherto,  departed  from  Ju- 
dah  :  their  civil  power  and  independency,  though  checked,  were 
not  extinguifhed.  They  were  ftill  governed  by  maglftrates  of  their 
own  ;  and  were  even  treated,  on  various  occafions,  not  as  depen- 
dents, but  as  friends  and  allies  of  the  Roman  Itate. 

"  A  few  years  lower,  when  Herod  (flatteringly  furnamed,  the 
great,)  a  native  of  Edom,  was  appointed  Tetrarch,  and  (foon 
after  King)  of  Judea,  chiefly  by  his  intereft  with  Mark  Antony  ; 
the  prophecy  drew  nearer  to  its  accomplifliment.  But  though  the 
throne  was  now,  for  the  firfl;  time,  filled  by  a  foreigner  ;  ftill,  that 
foreigner  was  a  profefibr  of  Judaifm..  Herod  revered,  or  at  Icafl; 
affefted  to  revere,  the  Mofaic  inftitutions  ;  and  even  rebuilt  [or 
rather  repaired]  the  temple,  at  a  vaft  expence.  The  fubordinate 
magiftracy,  alfo,  confifted  of  Jews :  as  did  the  fanhedrim,  which 
was  their  higheft  court  of  judicature.  The  fceptre,  therefore, 
though  departing  faft,  was  not  entirely  gone  from  Judah,  ere 
Shiloh  came.  Chrift  was  born  towards  the  clofe  of  this  Herod's 
reign  ;  /.  e.  while  the  political  and  ecclefiaftical  conftitution  of 
Judea  were  fubfifting.  Herod,  indeed,  was  in  fome  fenfe  tribu- 
tary to  the  Roman  empire  :  but  the  Jews  tliemfelves  were,  for  the 
moft  part,  in  full  pofleffion  of  their  civil  and  religious  rights. 

"  When  our  blefled  Saviour  was  about  twelve  years  of  age,  the 
fceptre  totally  departed  fram  Judah.  For,  Herod  (who  died 
while  our  Lord  was  yet  an  infant)  was  fucceeded  by  his  fon  Ar- 
chelaiis  ;  which  Archelaiis,  after  reigning  about  ten  years,  was 
depofed  and  baniflied  by  the  emperor  Auguftus.  From  thence- 
forward, the  tribe  of  Judah,  which  hud  fo  long  been  diilinguiflied 
by  its  dignity  and  pre-eminence,  was  reduced  to  a  Roman  pro- 
vince, and  became  an  appendage  to  the  empire.  Quirinius,  pre- 
feft  of  Syria,  ys-as  commiftioned  to  take  poflTeffion  of  the  country 
in  the  emperor's  name  ;  and  Coponius,  a  Roman  knight,  was  fent 
to  prefide  over  it,  as  lieutenant  governor. 

"  Thus  did  the  fceptre,  at  length,  depart  from  Judah,  and  a 
lawgiver  from  between  h.is  feet.  Auguftus  drove  the  nail  to  the 
head  ;  and  Titus  clenched  it,  within  forty  years  after  our  Lord's 
urucifixion  ;  when  the  city  and  temple  were  utterly  deftroyed,  and 

thofc 


i64         HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

Ifrael  in  Egypt,  when  the  power  of  Egypt  was  engaged 
utterly  to   deftroy   them.      They  feemed  to  be  wliolly  in 

the 

thofe  of  the  Jews,  who  efcaped  immediate  death,  were  fold  for 
flavesinto  every  part  of  tiie  known  world. 

"  It  is  certain,  therefore,  that  the  promifed  Shiloh  is  come  : 
and  Jefus  Chriti  the  righteous,  in  whofe  childhood  the  fceptre  de- 
parted, is  both  the  Son  of  the  mod  high  God,  and  likewife  the 
true  MelTiah,  of  whom  Mofes  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets,  did 
write. 

"  Shiloh,  may  be  rendered  the  Son  ;  alfo  the  Saviour  ;  like- 
wife,  the  peaceable,  and  the  profperous  one.  The  Septuagint 
tranflates,  or  rather  paraphrafes  it,  by,  '  He  for  whom  [all]  things 

*  are  laid  up,  or  kept  in  ilore.'  In  his  adorable  perfon,  and  moft 
v/onderful  ofiices  and  tranfaftions,  Jcfus  exhaiifts  every  one  of  thofe 
fignifications.  He  is,  the  Son  of  God  ;  the  only  Saviour,  the 
peace-maker  between  God  and  men.  He  profpered  and  prevailed, 
to  the  uttermoft,  in  the  whole  and  in  every  branch  of  his  media- 
torial undertaking.     And,  for  him,  all  things  are  referved. 

"  To  him  fl->all  the  gathering  of  the  people  be.  It  is  plain, 
from  this  claufe  of  t-he  text  before  us,  that  redemption  by  Chrill 
is  not  a  random  and  precarious  thing.  .  .  .  He  was  born,  and  fhed 
his  blood,  '  for  a  peculiar  people,  whom  his  own  fanftifying  grace 

*  was  to  make  zealous  of  good  works  ;'  [Tit.  ii.  14.]  and  that  he 
might  '  gather  together  into  one  glorified  company,  all  the  chil- 

*  dren  of  God  that  were  fcattered  abroad.'      [John  xi.  ^2."] 

[Gofpel  Mag.  Dec.  1776.] 

The  latter  might  be  rendered,  with  a  flight  variation,   '  until 

*  Shiloh  come,  and  the  people  be  gathered  unto  him,'  which  flill 
more  exaSly  correfponded  with  the  event;  for  great  multitudes,  both 
of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  were  aftually  gathered  to  Chrifl,  befoie  the 
fceptre  tofaily  departed,  by  the  dellruftion  of  the  Jewiih  flate  ;  and 
this  indeed  our  Lord  liimfelf  predifted.      [Matt.  xxiv.  14.] 

But  it  fliould  not  be  concealed,  that  a  learned  Jew  of  the  prefent 
age  (Mr.  Levi)  has  offered  another  tranflation  of  part  of  this 
verfe,  which,  if  admitted,  would  overturn  the  whole  of  this  expo- 
fition,  anel  turn  the  tables  on  us  completely  :  '  The  fceptre  fhall 
.'  not  depart  from  Judah,  nor  the  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet 

*  for  ever,  hecaufe  Shiloh  \j.e.  MefRah]  fliall  come,'  l^c.  And  in 
fupport  of  this  tranflation  he  adds,  "  I  fliall  juft  mention,  that  ac- 
cording to  the  common  tranflation,  which  all  the  Chriilian  writers 
feem  lio  have  adopted,  the  adverb,  bccavfe,  flands  for  a  cypher  in 
the  text,  as  no  word  is  given  for  it ;  and  wliich,  I  think,  is  a  de- 
monlbation  of  the  truth  of  my  expofition,  and  the  fallity  of  the 
common  tranflation  ;  whether  defignedly  or  not,  is  not  now  before 
me."  But  fuppofe  for  a  moment  tliat  his  interpretation  were  the 
.Chriflian  one,  and  fav(>ia'ablc  to  our  caufe,  would  he  not  have  faid, 

'  VV^hat 


FROM  ABRAHAM'S  CALL  TO  MOSES.       165 

the  hands  of  the  Egyptians  ;  they  were  their  fervants,  and 
were  fubje6V  to  the  power  of  Pharaoh,  who  fet  himfelf  to 
weaken  them  by  hard  bondage.  And  when  he  faw  that 
did  not  do,  he  fet  himfelf  to  extirpate  the  race  of  them, 
by  commanding  that  every  male  child  ihould  be  drowned. 
But  after  all  that  Pharaoh  could  do,  God  wonderfully  pre- 
ferved  them  ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  increafed  them  exceed- 
ingly ;  fo  tf^^t  inflead  of  being  extirpated,  they  greatly 
multiplied. 

0.  Here  is  to  be  obferved,  not  only  the  prcfervation  of 
the  nation,  but  God's  wonderfully  preferving  and  uphold- 
ing his  iuvifiiile  cb.urch  in  that  nation,  when  in  danger  of 
being  overwhelmed  in  the  idolatry  of  Egypt.  The  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  being  long  among  the  Egyptians,  and  beirg 

lervants 

*  What  a  grofs  combination  is  here  of  ignorance,  prevarication, 
'  and  falfhood  ?'  At  leall  he  might  have  faid  fo  with  more  appear- 
ance of  reafon  than  the  ccnfure  he  has  above  infinuated ;  for  in 
printing  the  Hebrew  text  he  has  artfully  divided  the  words,  or 
rather  ivurd,  in  difpnte,  not  only  by  ovditting  the  makkaph  [a  kind 
of  hyphen]  but  by  inferting  feveral  lines  of  Englifli  between. 
But  to  this  evafion  we  reply, 

1.  Though  the  adverb  [li/'3  fometimes  ^ignx^ts  for  ever,  yet 
it  doth  not,  when  joined  with  the  particle  ['D]  as  in  the  text. 
Compare  Gen.  xxvi.  13. — xli.  49 — 2  Sam.  xxiii.  10. — 2  Cliron. 
xxvi.  15.  All  which  are  omitted  in  /.fw's  diftionary.  [See  T^jy- 
/cr's  Concordance  in  ly  p.  6^.]  Some,  indeed,  (as  R.  Bechari) 
pretend  that  the  accent  jcthib  feparates  the  words,  and  makes  a 
paufe  upon  tlic  former ;  "  But  this  tliey  can  give  no  inilance  of, 
efpecially  when  it  hath  a/Ziwfli- immediately  pieceding  it  as  in  thi,> 
place."  [Owen's  Exercit.  on  the  Heb.  vol.  i.  p.  149.  and  Pali 
Syn.  in  loc.  To  which  may  be  added,  that  the  adverb  does  not 
fignlfy  for  ever,  abfohitely  put  without  fome  antecedent  noun  or 
particle.      [Gill  in  loc] 

2.  We  have  on  our  lide  thetlu'e,.'  Taigumsand  the  moll  ancient 
and  learned  rabbies.  So  the  Chaldce  paiaphrafe  faith,  '  He  that 
'  hath  dominion  fhall  not  be  taken  away until  Meffiah 

*  come.'  The  Jerufaicm  Targum,  '  Kings  Ihall  not  ceafe  until 
'  Meffiah  come.'  The  other  Targum,  D.  Kimchi,  AbentEzia, 
and  R.  Sol.  Jarchi  to  the  fame  effeft.  [See  the  authorities  referred 
to  in  the  authors  above  cited  ;  alio  Ainf'Lv.  in  loc] 

3.  if  we  mult  give  two  words  inftead  of  one  in  the  Engliflt 
tranllation,  (which  is  a  childiih  notion)  the  moft  exa6t  will  be 
UNTIL  Vv-HEN  [fo  the  LXX  St'.;  Sici]  Shiloli  ihail  come. 


i66        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fervants  under  them,  and  (o  not  having  the  advantage  of 
keeping  God's  ordinances  among  themfelves,  or  maintain- 
ing any  public  worfhip  or  inftruclion,  whereby  the  true 
religion  might  be  upheld  ;  and  there  being  now  no  written 
word  of  God,  they,  by  degrees,  in  a  great  meafure  loft  the 
true  religion,  and  borrowed  the  idolatry  of  Egypt ;  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  people  fell  away  to  the  worfhip  of  their 
gods.     [See  Ezck.  xx.  6,  8.— xxiii.  8.] 

This  now  was  the  third  time  that  God's  church  was 
almoft  fwallowed  up  and  carried  away  with  the  wicked- 
nefs  of  the  world  ;  once  before  the  flood  ;  a  fecond  time 
before  the  calling  of  Abraham  ;  and  now  in  Egypt.  But 
yet  God  did  not  fuffer  his  church  to  be  quite  overwhelmed  ; 
he  ftill  faved  it,  like  the  ark  in  the  flood,  and  as  he  faved 
Mofes  in  the  midft  of  the  waters,  in  an  ark  of  bulrullies, 
^vhere  he  was  in  the  utmolT:  danger  of  being  fwallowed  up. 
The  true  religion  was  ftill  kept  up  with  fome  ;  and  God 
had  ftill  a  people  among  them,  even  in  this  miierable,  cor- 
rupt, and  dark  time.  The  parents  of  Mofes  were  true  fer- 
vants of  God,  [Heb.  xi.  23.]  '  By  faith  Mofes,  when  he 
*  was  born,  was  hid  three  months  of  his  parents,  becaufe 
'  they  faw  that  he  was  a  proper  child,  and  they  were  not 
'  afraid  of  the  king's  commandment.' 

I  have  now  gone  through  the  third  part  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament  period  ;  and  have  iliown  how  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion was  carried  on  from  the  calling  of  Abraham  to  Mofes  ; 
in  which  we  have  feen  many  great  things  done  towards  this 
work,  and  a  great  advancement  of  this  building,  beyond 
what  had  been  before. 


§  IV.     From  MosEs  to  David. 

I  PROCEED  to  \h^  fourth  period,  which  reaches  from 
Moles  to  David. — To  ftiow  how  the  work  of  redemption 
was  carried  on  through  this  alfo. 

The  firft  thing  that  offers  itfelf  to  be  confidered  is  the 
redemption  of  the  church  of  God  out  of  Egypt ;  the  moft 

remark- 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  167 

1-emarkable  of  all  the  Old  Tcftament  deliverances,  and 
that  which  was  the  greateft  pledge  and  type  of  the  fu- 
ture redemption  of  Chrift ;  and  is  much  more  infifted 
on  in  fcripture  than  any  other.  This  was  by  Jefus  Chrift, 
who  appeared  to  Mofes  in  the  bu(h ;  fent  him  to  redeem 
that  people  ;  as  is  evident,  becaufe  he  is  called  the  angel 
of  the  Lord;  [Exod.  iii.  2,  3.]  The  bufh  reprefented  the 
human  nature  of  Chrifi:,  who  is  called  the  branch.  This 
bu^li  grew  on  mount  Sinai  or  Horeb,  (h)  which  laft  name 
fignifies  a  dry  place,  as  the  human  nature  of  Chrift  was 
a  *  root  out  of  dry  ground.'  The  bufh  burning  with  fire 
reprefented  the  fulFerings  of  Chrift,  in  the  tire  of  God's 
wrath,  (i)  It  burned,  and  was  not  confumed  ;  fo 
Chrifi:,  thoueh  he  fufFered  extremely,  yet  periihed  not » 
but  overcame  at  laft,  and  rofe  from  his  fufferings.  Be- 
caufe this  great  myAery  of  the  incarnation  and  furferings 
qf  Chrift  was  here  reprefented,  therefore  Mofes  fays,  '  I 
<  will  turn  afide,  and  behold  this  great  fight.*  A  great 
fight  he  might  well  call  it,  when  there  was  reprefented, 
God  manifeft  in  the  iiefli,  fufFering  a  dreadful  death,  and 
rifing  from  the  dead. 

It  was  this  glorious  perfon  that  redeemed  Ifrael  out  ot 
Egypt  from  under  the  hand  of  Pharaoh  ;  as  afterward,  by 
his  death  and  fufferings,  he  redeemed  his  ele6l  from  Satan, 

Z  the. 


(h)  Horeb  or  Si/mr.^  "  Horeb  is  a  mountain  in  Arabia  Pe- 
traea,  at  fo  fmall  a  diltance  from  mount  Sinai,  that  they  feem  to 
be  no  more  than  two  tops  belonging  to  the  fame  mountain.  Sinai 
lies  to  the  eaft,  and  Horeb  to  the  well;  but  we  find  them  fre- 
quently in  fcripture  ufedpromifcuoufly."  [Stackhouse's  Hiit. 
of  the  Bible,  vol.  I.  b.  iii.  chap.  5.  note.] 

(i)  T/je  burning  bu/h  typified  Ckrijl's  sufferings.]  That 
fomething  typical  was  intended  by  this  vifion,  we  liave  no  doubt; 
but  rather  apprehend  that  tlie  then  ftate  of  the  Jewifh  churcli  was 
the  objeA  intended  ;  fo  the  Heb.  doflors,  '*  God  dwelt"  (fays 
R.  Eliezer)  "in  the  bramble  bufh,  and  the  bramble  buOi  was 
\j.  e.  fignificd]  afflic'tion  and  anguifli,  and  all  thorns  and  briars. 
And  why  dwelt  he  in  the  midft  of  affliftion  and  anguifli  ?  bur 
becaufe  he  faw  Ifrael  in  great  affliction,  he  alfo  dwelt  with  them 
in  the  midft  of  affiiftion,  to  confirm  that  which  is  faid  in  Ifa.  Ixiii. 
9.  *  In  all  their  afflictions  he  was  a/Bided."  [See  Amfuiorth  ia 
loc] 


168         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

the  fpiihual  Pharaoh.-— Thcfe,  he  delivered  them  from 
hard  lervice  and  cruel  drudgery;  thefe,  from  the  cruel 
flavery  of  fin  and  Satan.— Thofe  he  redeemed  from  the 
iron  furnace  ;  thefe  fi'om  everlafting  burnings. — Thofe  he 
redeemed  with  a  ftrong  hand  and  out-flretched  arm,  and 
oreat  and  terrible  judgments  on  their  enemies ;  thefe 
with  mighty  grace  triumphing  over  principalities,  and 
powers,  and  executing  terrible  judgments  on  their  ene- 
mies.— Thofe  he  faved  when  others  were  deftroyed,  by 
the  fprinkling  of  the  blood  of  the  pafchal  lamb ;  thefe 
from  death  and  hell  by  the  fprinkling  of  his  own  blood. 
Thofe  he  brought  torth  forely  againft  the  will  of  the 
Egyptians,  when  they  could  not  bear  to  let  them  go; 
thei'e  he  refcues  out  of  the  hands  of  the  devil,  when  his 
proud  Ireart  cannot  bear  to  be  overcome. 

Tn  that  redemption,  Chrifl  did  not  only  deliver  the 
people  from  the  Egyptians,  but  he  redeemed  them  from 
the  devils,  their  gods ;  for  before,  they  had  been  in  a 
flate  of  fcrvitude  to  the  gods  of  Egypt,  as  well  as  to  the 
Egyptians.  And  Chrifl,  the  feed  of  the  woman,  did 
now,  in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  fulfil  the  curfe  on 
the  ferpent,  in  bruil'ing  his  head:  [Exod.  xii.  12.]  '  For 
'  I  will  pafs  through  the  land  of  Egypt  this  night,  and 
'  will  fmitc  all  the  lirfl-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt, 
'  both  man  and  beaii,  and  againft  all  the  gods, of  Egypt 
'  will  I  execute  judgment.'  Hell  was  as  much,  and 
more,  engaged  in  that  affair,  than  Egypt  was.  The 
pride  and  cruelty  of  Satan,  that  old  ferpent,  was  more 
concerned  in  it '  than  Pharaoh's.  He  did  his  worll: 
againfl:  the  people,  and  to  his  utmoll:  oppofed  their  re- 
demption. But  it  is  faid  that  when  God  redeemed  his  peo- 
ple out  of  Egypt,  he  broke  the  heads  of  the  dragons  in  the 
waters,  and  broke  the  head  of  leviathan  in  pieces,  and 
gave  him  to  be  meat  for  the  people  inhabiting  the  wiider- 
nefs,  [Pfal.  Ixxiv.  12 ---14.]  God  forced  their  enemies 
to  let  them  go,  that  they  might  ferve  him  ;  as  alfo  Zacha- 
rias  obferves  with  refpe6i  to  the  church  under  the  gofpel. 
("Luke  i.  74,  75.] 

Tlie 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  169 

The  people  of  Ifiael  went  out  with  an  high  hand,  and 
Chiift  went  before  them  in  a  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire,  (k) 
There  was  a  glorious  triumph  over  earth  and  hell  in  that 
deliverance.  And  when  Pharaoh  and  his  hoft,  and  Satan 
by  them,  purfued  the  people,  Chrift  overthrew  them  in 
the  Red  Sea  ;  '  the  Lord  triumphed  glorioufly  ;  the  horfe 
'  and  his  rider  he  cait  into  the  lea,'  and  there  they  fiept  their 
laft  fleep,  and  never  followed  the  children  of  Ifrael  any 
more  ;  as  all  Chrift's  enemies  are  overthrown  in  his  blood, 

Z  2  which 

(k)  The  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire. ']^  There  is  no  doubt  but  the 
grand  defign  of  this  phcenomenon  was  to  be  a  guide  to  the  camp 
of  Ifrael  in  their  journies  both  by  night  and  day;  it  was  alfo  a 
/hade  from  the  burning  fun-beams  in  the  defert  they  were  to  pafs  : 
and  the  vehicle  of  the  divine  prefence  the  Shechhiah  from  which  ora- 
cles were  delivered.  A  fancy,  but  moderately  lively,  will  recollect 
a  multitude  of  objects  of  which,  if  this  miglit  be  typical,  Clirifl 
himfelf,  the  holy  fcriptures,  but  above  all  the  mylleries  of  divine 
Providence,  are  therein  beautifully  reprefented.  Was  it  alternately 
luminous  and  opaque?  fo  are  the  providences  of  God,  at  one  time 
bright  and  promifuig  ;  at  another  dark  and  infcrutable.  Was  it 
dark  to  the  purfuing  Egyptians  while  it  illumined  the  fleeing  If- 
raehtes?  So  often  has  the  fame  event  that  has  brought  falvatlon  and 
glory  to  God's  people,  been  confufion  and  deftruftion  to  their  ene- 
mies. Was  this  cloud  the  guide  of  Ifrael  through  all  their  pIU 
grimage  In  the  defert?  Thus  doth  God  lead  his  people  through  all 
the  viclflitudes  of  this  mortal  life,  and  every  providence,  wbethci 
light  or  dark,  whether  profperous  or  adverfe,  will  Inlalllbly  for- 
ward his  people  to  the  heavenly  Canaan.  But  above  all  be  it  re- 
membered that  God  was  in  the  cloud  ;  yes,  believer,  and  In  thy 
every  trial,  as  well  as  comfort,  may  God  be  found.  He  inhabits 
and  direfts  all  the  clouds  that  attend  this  way  ;  and  though,  like 
Ifrael,  ye  may  be  baptlfed  In  the  cloud  or  in  the  fea,  ye  fliall  not 
be  overwhelmed. 

"  Ye  fearful  faints  frefh  courage  take  ; 

The  clouds  ye  fo  much  dread. 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  fhall  break 

In  bleflings  on  your  heads."  [Cooper.] 

Some  learned  men  have  conje^liired  that  this  appearance  was 
not  altogether  new;  but  that  the  fame  Shechinah  had  guided  Abra- 
ham [and  doubtlefs  then,  others,]  \n  his  travels  to  the  promlfed 
land,  and  had  direfted  him  to  Mount  Moriah  ;  that  thi j  appearance 
fatisfied  Ifaac,  as  well  as  Abraham,  of  the  divine  will;  and  that 
therefrom,  the  angel  of  the  covenant  who  Inhabited  it,  called  to 
Abraham.  This  Is  certainly  no  more  than  a  conjefture,  but  It  is  a 
conjetlure  that  will  account  for  many  difficulties,  and  feems  no  wa^- 
inconfillent  with  revelation.      [See  Biblioth.  Biblica,  voh  i.] 


17©         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

which  by  its  abundant  fufficiency,  and  the  greatnefs  of  the 
fufFerings  with  which  it  was  flied,  may  well  be  reprefented 
by  a  fea.  The  Red  Sea  might  reprelent  Chrift's  blood,  as 
is  evident,  becaufe  the  apofllc  compares  the  children  of 
Ifrael's  pafiage  through  it,  to  baptifm,  [i  Cor.  x.  i,  2.] 
and  we  know  that  the  water  of  baptifm  reprefents  the 
blood  of  Chrifl. 

Thus  Chrift,  the  angel  of  God's  prefence,  in  his  love  and 
in  his  pity,  redeemed  his  people,  and  carried  them  in  the 
days  of  old  as  on  eagle's  wings,  fo  that  none  of  their  proud 
and  malicious  enemies  could  touch  them. 

This  was  another  new  thing  that  God  did  towards  this 
great  work  of  redemption.  God  never  had  done  any 
thing  like  it  before.  [Deut.  iv.  32—34.]  This  was  the 
greateft  advancement  of  the  work  of  redemption,  that  had 
been  begun  and  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  ;  a  great 
ftep  taken  in  divine  providence  towards  a  preparation 
for  Chrifl's  coming;  into  the  v^'orld,  and  working  out  his 
great  and  eternal  redemption  :  for  this  was  the  people  of 
whom  Chrifl:  was  to  come,  And  now  we  may  fee  how 
that  plant  flouriflied  that  God  had  planted  in  Abraliam. 
Though  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  come,  had 
been  in  a  degree  feparated  from  the  vefl  of  the  world 
before,  in  the  calling  of  Abraham,  yet  that  feparation 
appeared  not  to  be  fufKcient.  For  though  by  that  they 
were  kept  as  llrangers  and  fojourners,  and  from  being- 
united  with  other  people  in  the  fame  political  focieties  ; 
yet  they  remained  mixed  among  them,  by  which  means, 
as  it  had  proved,  they  were  in  danger  of  wholly  loling 
the  true  religion,  and  of  being  over-run  with  the  idolatry 
of  their  neighbours.  God  now,  therefore,  by  his  redemp- 
tion, feparated  tiicm  as  a  nation  from  all  other  nations, 
to  fubfiil  by  tliemfeives  in  their  own  political  and  ecclefiaf- 
tical  ftate,  without  having  any  concern  with  the  heathen 
nations,  that  they  might  fo  be  kept  fcparate  till  Chrifl; 
fhould  come  ;  and  fo  that  the  church  of  Chrill:  might 
be  upheld,  and  might  keep  the  oracles  of  God,  till  that 
time  ;  that  in  them  might  be  e>ihibited  thofe  types  and 
prophecies  of  Chrifl:,  and  thclb  hiftories,  and  other  divine 

inftruC" 


FROM   MOSES   TO   DAVID.  171 

inflnnSlions,  that  were  neceflary  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrift's  coming. 

2.  As  this  people  were  feparated  to  be  God's  peculiar 
people,  fo  all  other  people  upon  the  face  of  the  whole 
earth  were  wholly  reje^led  and  given  over  to  heathenifm. 
This,  fo  far  as  the  providence  of  God  was  concerned  in  it, 
belongs  to  the  great  affair  we  are  now  upon,  and  was  one 
thing  that  God  ordered  in  his  providence  to  prepare  the 
way  for  Chrift's  coming,  and  the  great  falvation  he 
was  to  accomplifh  :  it  was  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
more  glorious  and  fignal  viilory  and  triumph  of  Chrift's 
power  and  grace  over  the  wicked  and  miferable  world, 
and  that  Clirift's  falvation  of  the  world  of  mankind  might 
become  the  more  fenfible.  This  is  the  account  the  fcrip- 
ture  itfelf  gives  us  of  the  matter.  [Rom.  xi.  30-— 32.]  The 
apoftlc  there  fpeaking  to  the  Gentiles  that  had  formerly 
been  heathens,  fays,  '  As  ye  in  times  paft  have  not  believed 
'  God,  yet  have  now  obtained  mercy  through  their  tin- 
'  belief ;  even  fo  have  thefe  alfo  now  not  believed,  that 
'  through  your  mercy  they  may  alfo  obtain  mercy.  For 
'  God  hath  concluded  them  all  in  unbelief  that  he  might 
'  have  mercy  upon  all.'  i.  c.  It  was  the  will  of  God,  that 
the  whole  world,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  fhould  be  concluded 
in  vilible  and  profefled  unbelief,  that  fo  God's  mercy  and 
Chrift's  falvation  towards  them  all  might  be  vihble  and 
fenfible.  For  the  apoftle  is  not  fpeaking  only  of  that  un- 
belief which  is  natural  to  all  God's  profeftlng  people  as 
well  as  others,  but  of  that  which  is  apparent  and  vifible  ; 
fuch  as  the  Jews  fell  into,  wh&n  they  openly  rejedted  Chrift. 
The  apoftle  obfcrvcs,  how  that  firft  the  Gentile  nations 
were  included  in  a  profeffed  unbelief  and  open  oppoution 
to  the  true  religion,  before  Chrift  came,  to  prepare  the 
way  tor  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  which  was  fopn  after, 
that  God's  mercy  might  be  the  more  confpicuous  to  them  ; 
and  that  the  Jews  were  reje6ied  from  the  viftble  church, 
to  prepare  the  way  for  the  calling  of  the  Jews,  which 
fhall  be  in  the  latter  days  :  fo  that  it  may  be  feen  of  all 
nations,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  they  are  evidently  re- 
(leemed  by   Chrift,  from  their  being  vilibly  aliens  from 

the 


172        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

the  commonwealth  of  Ifrael,  without  hope,  and   without 
God  in  the  world. 

We  cannot  with  certainty  precifely  determine  at  what 
time  the  apoftafy  of  the  Gentile  nations  became  univerfal. 
It  was  a  gradual  thing,  as  we  have  already  obferved.  It  was 
general  in  "Abraham's  time,  but  not  univerfal  :  for  then  we 
find  Melchizedec,  one  of  the  kings  of  Canaan,  was  prieft 
of  the  moft  high  God.  [See  note  (y)  p.  138.]  And  after 
this  the  true  religion  was  kept  up  for  a  while  among  fome 
of  the  reft  of  Abraham's  poflerity,  befides  the  family  of 
Jacob  and  alfo  in  fome  of  the  pofterity  of  Nahor,  of  which 
■we  have  inftances  in  Job,  his  three  friends,  and  Elihu. 
'The  land  of  Uz,  where  Job  lived,  was  a  land  poffeffed  by 
the  pofterity  of  Uz,  or  Huz  the  fon  of  Nahor,  Abraham's 
brother,  of  whom  we  read,  [Gen.  xxii.  21.]  Bildad  the 
Shuhite  was  of  the  offspring  of  Shuah,  Abraham's  fon  by 
Keturah,  [Gen,  xxv.  1,2.]  and  Elihu  the  Buzite,  was 
of  Buz,  the  foH  of  Nahor,  the  brother  of  Abraham.  So 
the  true  religion  lafted  among  fome  other  people,  befides 
the  Ifraelites,  fome  time  after  Abraham,  but  not  long:  and 
it  is  probable  that  the  time  of  their  rejeilion,  and  being 
given  up  to  idolatry,  was  about  the  time  wlien  God  fepa- 
rated  the  children  of  Ifrael  from  Egypt  to  ferve  him ;  for 
they  are  often  pat  in  mind  on  that  occalion,  that  God  had 
now  feparated  them  to  be  his  peculiar  people  ;  or  to  be 
diflinguiflicd  from  all  other  people  upon  earth,  to  be  his 
people  alone  ;  to  be  his  portion,  when  others  were  rejec- 
ted. This  feem-s  to  imply  that  God  now  chofe  them  in 
fuch  a  manner,  that  his  vihble  choice  of  them  was  accom- 
panied with  a  vifiblc  rejection  of  all  other  nations  in  the 
world  ;  that  God  came,  and  took  up  his  refidence  with 
them,  as  it  were,  forfaking  all  other  nations. 

And  as  the  firft  calling  of  the  Gentiles  after  Chriftcame, 
was  accompanied  with  a  rejection  of  the  Jews  ;  fo  the  firft 
railing  of  the  Jews  to  be  God's  people,  when  they  were 
railed  out  of  Egypt,  was  accompanied  with  a  rcjeiftion  of 
the  Gentiles. 

Thus  all  the  nations  throughout*  the  wliole  world,  ex- 
(Cept  the  Ifraelites,  and  thofc  th.it  embodied  themlelvcs  with 

them. 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  173 

them,  were  left  to  idolatry  ;  and  fo  continued  a  great  many 
ages,  even  from  this  time  till  Chi  i ft  came,  which  was 
about  fifteen  hundred  years.  They  were  concluded  fo  long 
a  time  in  unhelief,  that  they  might  be  a  thorough  proof  of 
the  ncceflity  of  a  faviour  ;  that  it  might  evidently  appear 
by  fo  long  a  trial,  that  mankind  were  utterly  infufficient 
to  deliver  themfelves  from  that  grofs  darknefs  and  mifery, 
and  fubjcition  to  the  devil,  that  they  had  fallen  under  ; 
that  it  might  appear  that  all  the  wifdom  of  the-philofophers, 
and  the  fages  that  the  heathen  had  among  them,  could  not 
deliver  them  from  their  darknefs,  for  the  greater  glory  to 
Jefus  Chrift,  who  when  he  came,  enlightened  and  deli- 
vered them  by  his  glorious  gofpel.  Herein  the  wonderful 
wifdom  of  God  appeared,  in  thus  preparing  the  way  for 
Chrift's  redemption.  This  the  fcripture  teaches  us,  [as 
in  I  Cor.  i.  21  ]  *  For  after  that,  in  the  wifdom  of  God, 
*  the  world  by  wifdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleafed  God 
'  by  the  fooliflmefs  of  preaching  to  fave  them  that  be- 
'  lieve.' 

3.  The  next  thing  done  towards  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion is  God's  giving  the  moral  law  in  fo  awful  a  manner 
at  mount  Sinai.  This  was  another  new  thing  that  God 
did,  a  new  ftep  taken  in  this  great  affair.  [Deut.  iv.  33.] 
'  Did  ever  a  people  hear  the  voice  of  God  fpcaking  out 
'  of  the  midft  of  iire,  as  thou  haft  heard,  and  live  ?'  And 
it  was  a  great  thing,  whether  we  conllder  it  as  a  new  ex- 
hibition of  the  covenant  of  works,  or  given  as  a  rule  of 
life. 

The  covenant  of  works  was  here  exhibited  to  be  as  a 
fchoolmafter  to  lead  to  Chrift,  not  only  for  the  ufe  of  that 
nation  in  the  ages  of  the  Old  Teftamcnt,  but  for  the  ufe 
of  God's  church  tiiroughout  all  ages  of  the  world,  as  an 
inftrument  that  the  great  Redeemer  makes  ufe  of  to  con- 
vince men  of  their  fin  and  mifery,  and  helplefs  ftate,  and 
of  God's  awful  and  tremendous  majefty  and  juftice  as  a 
lawgiver,  and  to  make  men  fcnllble  of  the  neceffity  of 
Chrift  as  a  faviour.  The  work  of  redemption,  in  its  fav- 
ing  effecl  on  men's  fouls,  in  all  the  progrefs  of  it,  is  not 
carried  on  without  the  ufe  of  this  law. 

It 


J74        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

It  was  given  in  an  awful  manner,  with  a  terrible  voicey 
fo  exceedingly  loud,  that  all  the  people  which  were  in  the 
camp  trembled  ;  and  Mofes  himfelf,  though  fo  intimate  a 
friend  of  God,  yet  faid,  '  I  exceedingly  fear  and  quake  ;' 
[Heb.  xii.  21.]  the  voice  being  accompanied  with  thun- 
ders and  lightnings,  the  mountain  burning  with  fire  and 
the  earth  itfslf  fhaking  and  trembling  ;  (l)  to  make  all 
fenfible  how  great  that  authority,  power,  and  juflice  was, 
that  flood  engaged  to  exatSl  the  fulfilment  of  this  law, 
and  how  terrible  his  wrath  will  be  againft  every  breaker 
of  it  ;  that  men,  being  fenfible  of  thefe  things,  might  have 
a  thorough  trial  of  themfelves ;  prove  their  own  hearts  , 
know  how  impoffible  it  is   for  them  to  have  falvation  by 

the 
(  L )    The  law  accompanied 'wUh  thunders.] 

*'  Thus  while  the  labouring  angel  fwell'd  the  found. 

And  rent  the  llcies,  and  (hook  the  ground, 
Up  rofe  th'  Almighty  ;  round  his  fapphire  feat 
Adoring  thrones  in  order  fell ; 
The  leffer  powers  at  diftance  dwell, 
And  cad  their  glories  down  fiicceflive  at  his  feet : 

Gabriel  the  great  prepares  his  way, 
*  Lift  up  your  heads,  eternal  doors,'  he  cries  ; 
Th'  eternal  doors  his  word  obey, 
Open  and  flioot  celeftial  day 

Upon  the  lower  flcies. 
Heav'n's  mighty  pillars  bow'd  their  head,  • 
As  their  Creator  bid. 
And  down  Jehovah  rode  from  the  fuperior  fphere, 
A  thoufand  guards  before,  and  myriads  in  the  rear. 

His  chariot  was  a  pitchy  cloud. 

The  wheels  befet  with  burning  gems  ; 

The  winds  in  harnefs  with  the  flames 
Flew  o'er  th'  ethereal  road  : 

Down  thro'  his  magazines  he  pad 

Of  hail,  and  ice,  and  fleecy  fnow. 

Swift  roll'd  the  triumph,  and  as  fail 
Did  hail,  and  ice,  in  melted  rivers  flovi'. 

The  day  was  mingled  with  the  niglit, 
His  feet  on  folid  darknefs  trod. 

His  radiant  eyes  proclaim'd  the  God, 
And  fcatter'd  dreadful  light ; 
He  breath'd,  and  fulphur  ran,  a  fiery  fl:ream  : 
He  fpoke,  and  (tho'  with  unknown  fpeed  he  came) 
Chid  the  flow  tempcft,  and  the  lagging  flame." 

[Watts'  Horse  Lyr.  p.  35.3 


FROM  M.OSES  TO  DAVID.  ty^ 

the  works  of  the  law,  and  fee  the  abfolute  ncceflity  they 
flood  in  of  a  mediator.  ^ 

If  we  regard  this  law  not  as  the  covenant  of  works, 
but  as  a  rule  of  life ;  fo  it  is  made  ufe  of  by  the  Redeem- 
er, from  that  time  to  the  end  of  the  world,  as  a  dire6tcry 
to  his  people,  to  lliew  rhem  the  way  in  which  tliey  muft 
walk,  if  they  would  go  to  heaven:  for  a  way  of  iincere 
and  univerfal  obedience  to  this  law  is  the  narrow  wav  tliat 
leads  to  life,  (m) 

4.  The  next  thing  obfervable  in  this  period,  was 
God's  giving  the  typical  law,  in  which  I  fuppofe  to  he 
included  moll:  of  thofe  precepts  which  were  given  by 
Mofes,  that  did  not  pi'operly  belong  to  the  moral:  not 
only  thofe  laws  that  are  commonly  called  ceremonial, 
which  are  the  laws  prefcribing  the  ceremonies  and  cir- 
cumftances  of  the  Jewiili  worlhip,  and  their  ecclefiaftical 
Hate;  but  alfo  many,  if  not  all  thofe  divine  laws  that 
were  political,  and  for  regulating  the  Jewifli  common- 
wealth, commonly  called  judicial ;  thefe  were  many  of 
them  typical.  The  giving  this  typical  law  was  another 
great  thing  that  God  did  in  tliis  period,  tending  to  build 
up  this  glorious  llrufture  of  redemption  that  he  had  been 
carrying  on   from   the  beginning  of   the  world.      There 

A  a  had 

(m)  The  laiu  not  a  covenant  of  works.]  "  The  decalogue 
or  ten  commandments  uttered  by  the  voice  of  God  himfclf,  is  an 
abftraft  of  that  original  law  under  which  man  was  created,  but 
publifhed  in  a  prohibitory  form,  the  Ifraelites,  like  the  reft  of 
mankind,  being  depraved  by  fin,  and  ftrongly  inclined  to  the  com- 
miffion  of  c\t\-y  evil.  This  law  could  not  be  defigned  as  a  cove- 
nant, by  obedience  to  which  man  (hould  be  juftified,-  for  long  be- 
fore this  the  gofpel  had  been  preached  to  Abraham,  [Gal.  iii.  8.] 
♦  bu.t  the  law  entered  that  fin  might  abound,'  [Rom.  v.  20.]  that 
the  extent,  evil,  and  the  defert  of  fin  might  be  known  ;  for  it 
reaches  to  the  moft  hidden  thoughts  of  the  heart,  requires  abfo- 
lute and  perpetual  obedience,  and  denounces  a  curfe  upon  all  who 
continue  not  therein  ....  Believers  of  old  were  relieved  from  the 
moral  law  by  the  facrifices  which  pointed  to  Chrift  ;  believers  un- 
der the  gofpel  are  relieved  by  a  direft  application  of  *  the  blood  of 
'  the  covenant.'  Both  renounce  any  dependance  on  the  moral 
law  for  juftification,  and  both  accept  it  as  a  ride  of  life,  in  the 
hands  of  a  Mediator,  and  arc  enabled  to  yield  a  fincere,  though 
not  a  perfeft  obedience."  [Vjgil.] 


176        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

had  been  many  typical  events  of  providence  before,  that 
reprefented  Chrift  and  his  redemption  ;  and  fome  typical 
ordinances,  as  particularly  thofe  two  of  facrifices  and  cir- 
cumcillon:  but  now,  inrtead  of  reprefenting  the  great  Re- 
deemer in  a  few  inftitutions,  God  gives  fortli  a  law  full  of 
nothing  elfe  buf  various  and  innumerable  typical  repre- 
fentations  of  good  things  to  come,  by  which  that  nation 
were  diredled  how,  every  year,  month,  and  day,  in  their 
religious  a6lions,  and  in  their  condu6l  of  themfelves,  in 
all  that  appertained  to  their  ecclefiaftical  and  civil  ftate,  to 
ihow  forth  fomething  of  Chrilt ;  one  obfervance  fliowing 
one  thing,  exhibiting  one  do6lrine,  or  one  benefit ,  ano- 
ther, another  :  fo  that  the  whole  nation  by  this  law  was, 
as  it  were,  conftituted  in  a  typical  ftate.  Thus  tlie  gofpcl 
was  abundantly  held  forth  to  that  nation  ;  fo  that  there  is 
fcarce  any  do6lrine  of  it,  but  is  particularly  taught  and 
exhibited  by  fome  obfervance  of  this  law  ;  though  it  was  in 
lliadows,  and  under  a  vail,  as  Mofes  put  a  vail  on  his  face 
when  it  ihone.   (n) 

To 

(n)  The  go/pel  revealed  in  the  T-^v'e.s.']  We  have  already  con- 
fidered  feveral  of  the  types,  and  fhall  conlider  others  as  they  occur. 
This  note  is  intended  to  prove  that  the  ancient  Jews  themfelves 
confidered  them  in  the  fame  point  of  view. 

1.  It  muft  occur  to  every  thinking  perfon,  ihafmere  ceremonies 
could  not  of  themfelves  ever  form  any  very  acceptable  fervices  to 
that  '  God  who  is  a  fpirit,  and  who  loves  to  be  worfliipped  in  fpirit 
'  and  in  truth;'  and  that,  unlefs  fomething  farther  was  defigned, 
many  parts  of  the  Jewilh  ritual  muft  appear  very  childifli,  others 
very  ridiculous,  and  fome  very  cruel.  There  feems  nothing  in  the 
wearing  of  fringes  or  ringing  of  bells ;  in  waters  of  purification 
or  perfumes  of  incenfe  ;  much  lefs  in  the  flaughtering  of  hundreds 
or  thoufands  of  harmlefs  animals ;  I  fay,  there  feems  nothing  in 
thefe,  in  themfelves  confidered,  that  appears  worthy  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  wife  and  holy  God,  or  the  obfervation  of  great  and  good 
men.  Thefe  refleftions  would  naturally  lead  them  to  fufpeft  fome- 
thing typical  muft  be  intended. 

2.  This  idea  would  be  confirmed  by  confidering  the  particular 
cxaftnefs  required  in  thefe  fervices  ;  with  the  penalties  inflifted  on 
tranfgreflion.  Upon  any  other  hypGthefis  it  would  be  difficult,  if 
not  impoffible  to  account  for  fo  many  being  flain  for  looking  into 
the  ark,  afpiring  to  the  priefthood,  &c.  or  for  Mofes  being  fo 

ftriaiy 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  177 

To  this  typical  law  belong  all  the  precepts  that  relate  to 
building  the  tabernacle,  which  was  fet  up  in  the  wildernefs, 
and  all  the  form,  circumftances,  and  utenfils  of  It. 

c.  About  this  time  was  given  to  the  church  the  firll 
written  word  of  God  for  the  regulation  of  the  faith,  wor- 
fhip,  and  pradi' e  of  his  church  in  all  ages,  which  was 
incrcafcd  f;oiri  rnne  to  time  till  it  was  finiOied,  and  the 
canon  of  fcripture  completed,  by  the  apoflle  John.     It  is 

A  a  2  not 

ftriftly  charged  to  make  *  all  things  according  to  the  pattern  exhi- 
'  bited  in  the  mount.'      [Heb.  viii.  5.] 

3.  We  have  already  feen  in  fome  inflances,  as  in  Abraham's 
offering  up  his  fon  Ifaac,  and  long  before,  in  the  facrifice  of  Abel, 
that  the  Old  Teftament  faints  really  had  fuch  views  ;  and  other 
inflances  will  occur  in  the  profecutien  of  our  fubjeft. 

4.  Agreeable  to  this  idea  we  find  the  piophets  commonly  fpoke 
in  figurative  language,  and  accompanied  it  by  typical  and  fymbo- 
lical  aftions ;  as  we  fee  in  Ifaiah  [xx.]  Jeremiah  [xiii.  i — 11. J 
Ezekiel  [iii.  i — 4.]  and  others.  This  mull  encourage  and  con» 
firm  fuch  a  method  of  interpretation. 

5.  We  Chriflians  have  the  mofl  unequivocal  alTertions  of  this  in 
the  New  Tellament.  The  law  is  called  a  '  fhadow  of  good  things 
'  to  come.'  [Heb.  x.  i.]  And  the  whole  Epiflle  to  the  Hebrews, 
and  great  part  of  that  to  the  Galatians,  is  written  to  piove  and  il- 
lullrate  this  very  point. 

6.  We  are  particularly  told  that  the  law  was  '  a  fchoolmafler  to 
*  kad  unto,'  to  point  out  the  neceffity,  excellency,  and  fuitable- 
nefs  of  '  Chrift,'  [Gal.  iii.  24.]  And  that  the  Jewifh  church  under 
this  difpenfation,  is  to  be  confidered  as  a  minor  under  tutors  and 
governors.  [Gal.  iv.  2.]  We  have  a  method  of  teaching  our  chil- 
dren their  letters  by  the  ufe  of  certain  pictures  affixed  to  them,  the 
more  flrongly  to  imprefs  them  on  their  minds :  [as  A,  an  Apple, 
B,  a  Book,  Sec.  So  probably  the  old  Hebrews  K  an  Ox,  3  a  Houfc, 
&c.  See  Sharp^s  Origin  of  Languages.]  A  method  fomewhat 
fimilar  to  this  the  Lord  feems  to  have  taken  with  his  ancient  people. 
Now,  as  he  would  not  be  thought  a  wife  inftruclor  who  taught  his 
little  pupils  the  pictures  without  the  letters,  how  fiiall  wejullify  the 
wifdom  of  God  in  teaching  the  Jews  thefc  ceremonies,  without 
their  meaning  and  defign  ? 

7.  Some  even  of  the  modern  Jews  have  dropt  hints  of  fuch  a 
defign,  particularly  Rab.  Mniachem  on  the  pafchal  lamb,  though 
they  acknowledore  tlieir  ignorance  of  the  myilery,  "  until  the  fpirit 
from  above  fluill  Ixe  poured  out  upon  thc-m."    [Ainfw.  in  Lev.  i.  2.] 

The  typical  import  of  the  tabernacle  and  itu  furniture,  and  how- 
far  believers  might  fee  tht  fufferings  of  ChriR  in  the  ancient  facri- 
fices,  will  be  confidered  in  a  fubfcqnent  note,  [L  N-l 


lyg        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

not  very  material  whether  the  firft  written  word  was  the 
ten  commandments  written  on  the  tables  of  ftone  with  the 
finger  of  God,  or  the  book  of  Job  ;  nor  whether  the  book 
of  Job  was  written  by  Mofes,  as  fome  fuppofe,  or  by  Elihu, 
as  others,  (o)  If  it  was  written  by  Elihu,  it  was  written 
before  this  period  ;  but  yet  could  not  be  far  from  it,  as  ap- 
pears by  confidering  whofe  pofterity  the  perfons  were  that 
are  fpoken  of  in  it,  [fee  above,  p.  172.]  together  with  Job's 
great  age,  which  was  paft  before  this  was  written. 

The  written  word  of  God  is  the  main  inftrument 
Chrift  has  made  ufe  of  to  carry  on  this  work  of  redemp- 
tion in  all  ages  fmce  it  was  given.  There  was  a  necef- 
fity  now  for  the  word  of  God  being  committed  to  writing 
as  a  ftanding  rule  to  his  church.  Before  this,  the  church 
had  the  word  of  God  by  tradition,  either  immediately 
from  eminent  men  that  were  infpired,  who  were  then 
living,  or  elfe  by  tradition  from  former  generations, 
which  might  be  had  with  tolerable  certainty  in  ages  pre- 
ceding this,  by  reafon  of  the  long  lives  of  men.  Noah 
might  converie  with  Adam,  and  receive  traditions  from 
him ;  and  Noah  lived  till  about  Abraham's  time :  and 
the  fons  of  Jacob  lived  a  conliderable  time  to  deliver  the 
revelations  made  to  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  to  their 
poflerity  in  Egypt,  (p)  But  the  diftance  from  the  begin- 
ning 


(o)  Whether  the  booh  of  Job  tuas  'ujntien  ^^  Moses.]  The 
learned  feem  now  pretty  well  fatisficd  that  the  book  of  Job  is  an 
Hebrew  poem,  written  in  a  dramatic  or  colloquial  form,  (as  ir.  So- 
lomon's fong)  and  generally  give  it  to  Mofes,  as  the  moft  probable 
author:  but  whether  he  wrote  it  from  a  facl  within  his  obfervation 
daring  his  exile  from  Egypt,  whether  from  traditional  records,  or 
had  the  fafts,  as  well  as  afTiftance  to  record  them,  immediately 
from  God,  is  not  fo  generally  agreed,  [See  Bp.  Lo'wthh  PrKleft. 
de  Sacra  Poefi  Heb.  praeleft.  xix.  PoU.  Syr..  Crit.  in  ch.  i. — Theo- 
leg.  Rcpof  vol.  i.  page  70.]  [U.  S.] 

(p)  The  LONGEVITY  of  the  patriarchs. '\  Our  author's  general 
remaik  of  the  few  hands  that  might  convey  traditions  through  a 
great  number  of  years  is  certainly  juil :  'but  here  is  a  fmall  mif- 
take  in  the  chronology,  which  in  all  probability  would  never  have 
been  printed,  had  our  author  lived  to  have  been  his  own  editor. 

He 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  179 

nlng  was  now  become  fo  great,  and  the  lives  of  men  fo 
fliortencd,    (being  brought  down  to  tlie  prefent  ftandard 

about 

He  alTerts  that  *  Noah  might  converfc  with  Adam  ;  but  it  appears 
from  the  following  table,  and  the  authorities  there  referred  to, 
that  Adam  died  above  an  hundred  years  before  Noah  was  bom. 

I'ears  of  the  luorld. 

I,     Adam  created. 

130,  Gen.  V.  3.  at   130  years  old  Adam  begat  Seth, 

235,  6.  at   105   Seth  begat  Enos. 

325,  9.  at     90  Enos  begat  Cainan. 

39 J,  12.  at     70  Cainan  begat  Mahalaleel. 

460,  15.  at     65  Mahalaleel  begat  Jared. 

622,  18.  at   162  Jared  begat  Enoch. 

687,  21.  at     65  Enoch  begat  Methufelah. 

874,  25.  at   187  Methufelah  begat  Lamech. 

930,  5.    Adam  died. 

1056,  28.  at   182  years  old  Lamech  begat  Noah. 

The  above  calculation  is  according  to  the  Hebrew  text  :  if,  In- 
deed, we  admit  the  Samaritan  readings,  the  fa6l  may  be  granted, 
[fee  Univ.  Hiit.  vol.  i.  page  146.]  but  as  our  author  has  every 
where  elfe  followed  the  Hebrew  copies,  it  is  very  unlikely  he 
meant  hereto  deviate  from  them,  without  giving  any  intimation 
of  it. 

Let  us  now  indulge  a  reflexion  or  two  on  the  faft  thus  ftated. 
Though  not  with  Noah,  yet  Adam  might  converfe  with  Lamech, 
Noah's /ather, — Lamech,  with  Shem,  his  own  grandfon, — and 
Shem,  (though  not  Noah)  with  his  defcendant  Abram,  and  even 
Ifaac.  Thus  four  perfons  might  by  tradition  convey  the  fubftance 
of  divine  revelation  through  more  than  two  thoufand  years,  which 
would,  at  the  prefent  ftandard  of  human  life,  on  a  moderate  com- 
putation, require  forty.  Now  as  the  lives  of  men  decreafed,  tra- 
dition would  naturally  become  more  corrupted  and  uncertain,  the 
more  hands  it  pafFed  through  ;  therefore  to  prevent  the  confe- 
quences  of  this,  God  was  pleafed  by  Mofes  to  give  a  written  reve- 
lation. In  this  we  may  admire  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  God, 
who  fuits  his  favours  to  our  circumftanccs  and  neceflities. 

There  is  fomething  venerable  in  ago,  and  the  grey  hairs  of  four- 
fcore  or  an  hundred  years  command  refpedl  and  attention.  And 
in  the  few  inftances  in  which  mr.nkind  exceed  that  age,  with  the 
prefervation  of  their  memory  and  other  faculties,  how  inflru£cive 
is  their  converfation  !  With  what  plcafurc,  then,  might  Lamech 
hear  from  Adam  the  ftory  of  his  eai  ly  life,  the  hiftory  of  his  firft 
fons,  and  the  various  revolutions  of  almcft  a  thoufand  years  ;  and 
with  no  lefs  fatisfaftion,  poffibly,  might  Abraham  receive  from 
81iem  the  wonderful  hiitory  of  the  flood  and  re-peopling  of  the 

earth  ; 


i8o        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

about  Mofes's  time,)  that  God  having  now  feparated  a  na- 
tion to  be  a  peculiar  people,  partly  for  that  end  to  be  the 
keepers  of  his  oracles,  faw  it  to  be  a  needful  and  conve- 
nient time  now  to  commit  his  word  to  writing,  to  remain 
throughout  all  ages,  (q^)  And  therefore,  befides  the  book 
of  Job,  God  wrote  the  ten  commandments  on  tables  of 
flone,  with  his  own  finger  ;  and  after  this  the  whole  law, 
as  containing  the  fubflance  of  the  five  books  of  Mofes,  was 
by  his  fpecial  command  committed  to  writing,  which  was 
called  the  book  of  the  law,  and  was  laid  up  in  the  taber- 
nacle, to  be  kept  there  for  the  ufe  of  the  church.  [Deut. 
xxxi.  24— -26.] 

6.  God  was  pleafed  now  wonderfully  to  reprefent  the 
progrefs  of  his  redeemed  church  through  the  world  to 
their  eternal  inheritance,  by  the  journey  of  the  children 
ot  Ifrael  through  the  wiidernefs,  from  Egypt  to  Canaan. 

Here 

earth  :  but  the  grand  fubjeft  of  their  inquiiy  would  doubtlefs  be, 
the  gradual  and  increafing  difcoveries  of  the  divine  will :  the  facrcd 
vifions,  prediftions,  and  types ;  the  inveftigation  of  which  muft 
afford,  to  fanftified  minds,  peculiar  delight  and  comfort. 

One  of  the  moft  barren  parts  of  facred  writ,  (if  we  may  fo  fpeak) 
feems  to  be  the  lift  of  lives  and  deaths  in  fome  of  the  firft  chap- 
ters of  Genefis  ;  hut  this  is  owing  to  our  own  inattention  and 
fupinenefs ;  as  appears  from  the  following  anecdote,  mentioned 
by  Mr.  Hervey  : 

"  A  certain  libertine,  of  a  moft  abandoned  charafter,  happened 
accidentally  to  ftroU  into  a  church,  where  he  heard  the  5th  chap- 
ter of  Genefis,  importing  that  fo  long  lived  fuch  and  fuch  perfons, 
and  yet  the  conclufion  was  they  died — '  Enos  lived  905  years,  and 
'  he  died — Seth,  912,  and  he  died — Methufelah,  969,  and  he  died.' 
The  frequent  repetition  of  the  words,  he  died,  notwithftanding  the 
great  length  of  years  they  had  lived,  ftruck-  him  fo  deeply  with 
the  thought  of  death  and  eternity,  that  (through  divine  grace) 
he  became  of  an  infamous  libertine,  a  moft  exemplary  Chriftian." 
llfervey's  Letters,  No.  147.]  [N.  U.] 

(q^)  God's  tvord  comimHed  to  'Loriiing.']  Our  author  alludes  here 
to  the  pentateuch,  or  five  firft  books  of  the  Old  Teftament,  which 
are  nowuniverfally  afcribed  to  Mofes  on  the  moft  fatisfaftory  evi- 
dence. The  enemies  of  revelation  have  indeed  objefted  to  fome 
pafTages  which  fpeak  of  the  death  and  charafter  of  Mofes,  but  thefe 
may  eaiily  be  fuppofed  the  fuppleijient  of  a  later  prophet  (perhaps 
Ezra)  without  afteding  the  general  queftion.  [U.  S.J 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  iSi 

Here  all  the  various  fteps  of  the  redemption  of  the  church 
by  Chrirt  were  reprefentcd,  from  the  beginning  to  its 
confummation  in  glory. — The  ftate  they  arc  redeemed 
from,  is  reprefentcd  by  Egypt,  and  their  bondage  there, 
which  they  left.— The  purchafe  of  their  redemption,  was 
reprefentcd  by  the  facrifice  of  the  pafchal  lamb,  which 
was  offered  up  the  night  that  God  flew  all  the  firft-bonl 
of  Egypt.— The  beginning  of  the  application  of  the  re- 
demption of  Chrift's  church  in  their  converfion,  was  re- 
prefentcd by  Ifrael's  going  out  of  Egypt,  and  paflTmg 
through  the  Red  Sea  in  fo  extraordinary  and  miraculous  a 
manner.— The  travel  of  the  church  through  this  evil 
world,  and  the  various  changes  through  which  the  church 
paffes,  in  the  different  ftages  of  it,  was  reprefentcd  by 
the  journey  of  the  Ifraelitcs  through  the  wildernefs. — 
The  manner  of  their  being  condu£ted  by  ChrilT:,  was  re- 
prefentcd by  the  Ifraelitcs  being  led  by  the  pillar  of  cloud 
by  day,  and  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night.— The  manner  of 
the  church's  .being  fupported  in  their  progrcfs,  and  fup- 
plied  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  it,  with  fpiritual 
food,  and  continual  daily  communications  from  God,  was 
reprefentcd  by  God's  fupplying  tlie  cliildren  of  Ifrael  with 
bread,  or  manna,  from  heaven,  and  water  out  of  the 
rock.— The  dangers  that  the  faints  m.uft  meet  with  in 
their  courlc  through  the  world,  were  reprefentcd  by  the 
fiery  flying  ferpents  which  the  children  of  Ifrael  met  with 
in  the  wildernefs. — The  conflicts  the  cimrch  has  with 
her  enemies,  were  reprefentcd  by  their  battle  with  the 
Amalekites,  and  others  they  met  with  there.— And  fo 
innumerable  other  things  might  be  mentioned,  wherein 
the  things  they  met  with  were  lively  images  of  things 
which  the  church  and  faints  meet  with  in  all  ages  of  the 
world.  That  thefe  were  typical  of  things  that  pertain 
to  the  Chrifl;ian  church,  is   manifefl:   from    i   Cor.  x.  ii. 

*  Now  all  thefe  things  happened  unto  them  for  enfamplcs^ 
'  and  they  were  written  for  our  admonition,  upon  whom 

*  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come.'     Here  the  apoftle  is 
fpeaking  of  thofe  very  things  which  we  have  now  con- 

fidercd, 


i82        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

fidered,  and   he  fays  expreffly,  that   they  happened  unto 
them  for  types  ;  fo  it  is  in  the  original. 

y,  Another  thing  muft  not  be  omitted,  which  was  a 
great  and  remarkable  difpenfation  of  Providence,  viz,  the 
fhortening  the  days  of  man's  life,  whereby  it  was  brought 
down  from  being  between  nine  hundred  and  a  thoufand 
years,  to  but  about  feventy  or  eighty.  The  life  of  man 
began  to  be  ihortened  immediately  after  the  flood :  it  was 
brought  down  the  firft  generation  to  fix  hundred  years,  and 
the  next  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  years  ;  and  fo 
the  life  of  hiain  gradually  grew  fliorter  and  fliorter,  till 
about  the  time  of  the  great  mortality  that  was  in  the  con- 
gregation of  Ifrael,  after  they  hid  murmured  at  the  report 
of  the  fpies,  and  their  carcafes  fell  in  the  wildernefs, 
whereby  all  the  men  of  war  died  ;  and  then  the  life  of 
man  was  reduced  to  its  prefent  flandard,  as  Mofes  obferves 
in  that  pfalm  that  he  wrote  on  occafion  of  that  mortality  : 
[Pfalm.  xc.  10.]   '   The  days  of  our  years   are  threefcore 

*  years  and  ten  ;   and  if  by  reafon  of  ftrength  they  be  four- 

*  fcore  years,  yet  is  their  ftrength  labour  and  forrow  :  for 

*  it  is  foon  cut  off,  and  we  fly  away.' 

This  great  difpenfation  of  God  tended  to  promote  the 
grand  defign  of  the  redemption  of  Chrift.  Man's  life 
being  cut  fo  very  Ihort  in  this  world,  prepared  the  way 
for  poor,  mortal,  Hiort-lived  men,  the  more  joyfully  to 
entertain  the  glad  tidings  of  everlafting  life  in  another 
world,  and  more  readily  to  embrace  a  Saviour,  who  pur- 
chafes  and  offers  fach  a  bleflSng.  If  men's  lives  were  dill 
commonly  about  nine  hundred  years,  how  much  lefs 
would  they  have  to  move  them  to  regard  the  proffers  of  a 
future  life  ;  how  much  greater  temptations  would  they 
have  to  reft  in  the  things  of  this  world,  they  being  of 
fuch  long  continuance,  and  to  negle6l  any  other  life  but 
this  ?  This  probably  contributed  greatly  to  the  wicked- 
nefs  of  the  antediluvians.  But  now  how  much  greater 
motives  have  men  to  feek  redemption,  and  a  better  life 
than  this,  by  the  great  Redeemer,-  fmce  the  life  of  man 
is  not  one  twelfth  part  of  what  it.  ufed  to  be,  and  men 

now 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  183 

now  univerfally  die  at  the  age  when  men  formerly  ufed  to 
he  but,  as  it  were,  fetting  out  in  the  world  ? 

8.  The  fame  work  was  carried  on  in  preferving  that 
people,  of  whom  Chrift  was  to  come,  from  totally  pe- 
rilliing  in  the  wildernefs,  by  a  conftant  miracle  of  forty 
years  continuance.  I  obferved  before  many  times,  how 
God  prelerved  thofe  of  whom  the  Redeemer  was  to  pro- 
ceed in  a  very  wondertul  manner;  but  this  prefervation 
of  the  children  of  Ifrael  for  fo  long  a  time  in  the  wilder- 
nefs was,  on  fome  accounts,  more  remarkable  than  any  of 
them.  There  was,  as  may  be  fairly  computed,  at  hrft  two 
millions  of  fouls  in  that  congregation,  which  muft  have 
perillicd  in  Icfs  tlian  one  month's  time,  had  they  not 
been  miraculoully  lupplied.  But  yet  this  vafl;  multitude 
fubfifted  for  forty  years  together,  in  a  dry  barren  wilder- 
nefs, without  fo-vving  or  reaping,  or  tilling  any  land, 
having  their  bread  daily  rained  down  to  them  out  of  hea- 
ven, and  being  furnifhcd  with  water  to  fatisfy  them  all, 
out  of  a  rock  ;  and  the  fame  cloaths  with  which  they  came 
out  of  Egypt,  lailing,  without  wearing  out  all  that  time. 
[Deut.  viii.  iv.]  Never  was  an  inflance  like  this  of  a  nation 
being  thus  fupporied  and  fupplied.  (rj 

Bb  9.  God 

(r)  Never  ivas  an  tnjlance  like  this.']  Wonderful  providence  In- 
deed !  But  not  lefs  wonderful  is  the  gracious  provifion  that  the 
Lord  has  made  for  all  his  people.  Had  they  manna  rained  from 
the  ficies  ?  We  have  the  true  bread  v/h.\c\\  came  down  from  heaven. 
Were  they  alfo  miraculouOy  fupplied  •w'lihjlejh  ?  The  Son  of  God 
feeds  us  with  his  oivn,  infinitely  more  precious,  flefh  and  blood. 
Did  the  rock  fupply  their  drink  ?  So  doth  the  rock  of  ages  ours. 
Did  not  their  raiment  wear  old?  Behold,  the  bell,  the  everlalling 
robe  of  righteoufnefs  with  which  the  Lord  cloaths  his  elect  peo- 
ple! Finally,  did  not  their  feet  fwcll,  fo  as  to  impede  their  jour- 
ney ?  The  Lord  has  provided  us  with  fandals  which  the  thorns  of 
the  wildernefs  cannot  penetrate  ;  and  prepared  with  the  gofpel  of 
peace,  we  need  not  fear  our  journey  being  impeded.  But,  to  de- 
fcend  to  temporal  concerns;  doth  not  the  Lord  ilill  feed  and  cloath 
his  people,  and  afford  them  every  neceffary  fupply?  And  is  net 
the  promife  Hill  faithful  and  true,  <  They  that  feek  the  Lord  Ihall 
•  not  wantany  good  thing?'  [Pf.  xxxiv.  10.]  Let  the  timorous 
believer  be  then  encouraged  and  joyfully  fing  on  his  way  : 
"  Guide  me,  O  thou  great  Jehovah, 

*'  Pilgrim,  through  this  barren  land,"  Sec.  [U.U.] 


i84        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

g.  God  was  pleafed  during  this  time,  to  give  a  farther 
revelation  of  Chrift  the  Redeemer  in  the  predi6lions  of 
him,  than  had  been  before.  Here  arc  three  propliecies 
given  at  this  time  that  I  wouJd  take  notice  of.  The  firiT: 
is  that  of  Balaam.    [Numb.  xxiv.  17  —  19.]     '  I  ihall  fee 

*  him,  but  not  now;    I  ihall  behold  him,  but  not  nigh  ; 

*  there  fhall  come  a  ftar  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  fceptre  fhall 
'  rife  out  of  Ifrael,  and  fhall  fmite  the  corners  of  Moab, 
'  and  deftroy  all  the  children  of  Sheth.     And  Edom  ihall 

*  be  a  poiTeiTion,  Seir  alfo  fliall  be  a  pofTeiTion  for  his 
'  enemies,  and  Ifrael  fliall  do  valiantly.  Out  of  Jacob 
'  ihall  come  he  that  ihall  have  dominion,  and  fliall  de- 
'  flroy  him  that  remaineth  of  the  city.'     (s)      This  is  a 

plainer 

(s)  The  prophecy  of  "Q  Ah  A  k^i.']  "Wonderful  as  the  gift  of 
prophecy  is,  it  was  not  always  (as  Bp.  Newton  obferves)  con- 
fined to  the  chofen  feed,  nor  yet  always  imparted  to  the  heft  of 
men."  Balaam  is  a  proof  of  this,  who  was  neither  an  Ifraelite  nor 
a  good  man;  however,  he  acknowledged  the  God  of  Ifrael,  and 
profefTed  to  be  his  fervant;  [Numb.  xxii.  8 — 18.]  his  worihip  was 
debafed  v/ith  fiiperftition  and  enchantments;  [Numb.  xxiv.  i. — 
xxxii.  12.]  and  his  heart  loted  *  the  wages  of  unrighteoufnefs.' 
[2  Pet.  ii.  15.]  And  when  the  Lord  would  not  fuffer  him  to  curfe 
his  people,  he  contrived  to  pervert  them  to  idolatry  and  unclcan- 
nefs.   [Rev.  ii.  14.] 

It  is  obfervable,  that  it  was  a  cuilom  among  the  heathens  to  de- 
vote their  enemies  to  deftruftion  at  the  commencement  of  their 
wars  ;  and  Balaam  being  a  prophet  of  great  note,  Balak  fuppofed 
him  to  have  peculiar  intereil  with  heaven. — '  I  wot  that  he  whom 
'  thou  bleCTeft  is  bleiTed,  and  he  whom  thou  curfeft  is  curfed.* 
[Numb.  xxii.  6.] 

But  the  ilrangeft  part  of  the  hiftory  is  that  of  Balaam's  afs 
fpeaking  with  a  man's  voice.  Stories  of  this  kind  have  been  current 
among  the  heathen,  and  might  probably  originate  from  a  tradition 
of  this  event.  But  however  extraordinary  tlie  fafi:,  the  fcripture 
attributes  it  to  a  fufficient  caufe  :   '  The  Loid  opened  the  mouth 

*  of  the  afs.'  [Numb.  xxii.  28.]  There  is  no  neceiTity,  however, 
to  give  the  animal  a  human  underftanding,  without  that  he  might 
utter  the  found  of  words  (as  parrots  may  be  taught  to  do,)  and 
this  is  all  the  facred  hiilorian  afferts. 

But  we  are  to  contemplate  a  greater  miracle  than  this  :  the  ani- 
mal fpake  unconfcioufly,  but  Balaam  tvas  over-ruled  to  blefs  where 
he  gladly  would  have  curfcd.  And  the  preceding  miracle  was 
probably  defigned  to  teacli  how  much  the  mouth  and  tongue  were 
wnder  God's  direflion,  and  the  folly  of  oppofing  the  divine  will. 

But 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  185 

plainer  prophecy  of  Chrift,  efpecially  with  regard  to  his 
kingly  office,    than  any   that  had  been  before.     But  we 

B  b  2  have 

But  to  advert  to  the  prophecy  itfelf ;  of  which  we  fhall  only  con- 
fider  the  paflage  quoted  by  our  author  :   '  I  fhall  fee  him,  but  not 

*  now  ;  I  fliall  behold  him,  bat  not  nigh.'  This  Bp.  Newton 
trandates  in  the  prefent  tenfe,  and  refers  to  Moab  ;  but  with  de- 
ference to  fo  great  an  authority,  we  fhould  rather  adhere  to  the 
prefent  tranflation,  which  is  more  literal,  and  refer  it,  with  the 
following  claufcs,  to  the  Meffiah,  [t^?,  Ainjtvorth  and  Dr.  GiU  do) 
whom  at  his  fecond  coming  '  every  eye  fhall  fee.'  [Rev.  i.  7. 
Compare  Job  xix.  26.] 

'  There  fhall  come  a  (lar  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  fceptre  fhall  arife 

*  out  of  Ifrael.'  The  ftar  and  fceptre  were  probably  hieroglyphics 
of  a  prince  and  of  a  god,  as  we  fliall  fee  prefently.  '  And  fliall 
'  fmite  the  corners  (or  princes)  of  Moab.'  This  was  fulfilled  by 
David,  who  *  fmote  Moab and  the  Moabites  became 

*  David's  fervants.'      [2  Sam.  viii.  2.] 

*  And  deflroy  all  the  children  of  Sheth  :'  If  by  Sheth  is  here 
intended  the  fon  of  Adam,  it  includes  all  mankind,  this  being  the 
only  line  preferved  at  the  flood  ;  and  thofe  who  fo  underftand  it, 
tranflate  tlie  words  *  he  fhall  uniuall,  fubdue,  or  rule  over  all  the 
'  children  of  Sheth.'  But  the  conflruftion  of  the  paffage,  and  the 
rules  of  Hebrew  poetry,  which  abounds  In  parallel  fentences,  [fee 
Bp.  Lowth's  Prelim.  Dif.  to  his  Tranf.  of  Ifaiah]  flrongly  incline 
us  to  believe,  that  Sheth  might  be  the  name  of  fome  town  or  prince 
of  Moab,  whofe  memory  is  now  loft.  This  was  the  opinion  of 
Mr.  Poole,  and  is  defended  by  Bp.  Ncivton. 

*  And  Edom  fliall  be  a  poffcflion.'     '  David  put  garrifons  .... 

*  throughout  all  Edom,'  [2  Sam.  viii.  14.]  *  Seir  [the  mountains 
■*  of  Edom]  alfo  fhall  be  a  poffeflion  for  his  enemies  ;'  that  is,  for 
the  Ifraelltes.  '  And  Ifrael  fhall  do  valiantly,'  as  in  the  inftanccs 
jufl  hinted.    *  Out  of  Jacob  fliall  come  he  that  fhall  have  dominion, 

*  and  fhall  deflroy  him  that  rcmaineth  of  the  city  ;'  not  only  defeat 
them  in  the  field,  but  purfue  and  deilroy  them  in  their  flrongefl 
holds:  *  Joab  fmote  every  male  in  Edom.'  [i  Kings  xi.  15,16.3 
Thus  was  the  prophecy  fulfilled  in  David  :  but  mofl  Jewifh  as  well 
as  Chriflian  expofitors,  ancient  and  modern,  refer  thefe  predidtions, 
in  a  more  fublime  and  exalted  fenfe,  to  the  Meffiah,  David's  Son 
and  Lord.  And  Bp.  Warburton  [Divine  Leg.  book  iv.  §  4.J 
obferves,  that  as  t\\t  fceptre  was  a  popular  emblem  of  a  king,  fo  a 

Jlar  was  a  more  myflerious  hieroglypliic  of  tlve  divinity,  [fee  Amos 
V.  25,26.]  and  doubtlefs  pointed  to  him  who  was  both  '  the  mighty 

*  God  and  Prince  of  Peace;'  [Ifa.  ix.  6.]  who  bore  the  fceptre  of 
Judah,  [fee  page  161,  note  g]  '  and  is  the  bright  and  morning  ftar.' 

{Rev.  xxii.  16.] [See  Bp.  Newton  on  the  Prophecies,  vol.  i. 

dif.  5.  from  whom  the  above  is  chiefly  taken.]  [G.  E.] 


jB6        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

have  another,  that  God  gave  by  Mofes,  which  is  plainer 
flill,  efpecially  with  regard  to  his  prophetical  office,  [Deut. 
xviii.  1 8,  &c.]  '  I  will  raife  up  a  prophet  from  among 
*  '  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  will  put  my  words 
'  in  his  mouth,  and  he  Ihall  fpeak  unto  them  all  that  I 
'  command  him,' &c.  This  is  a  plainer  prophecy  of  Chrift 
than  any  that  had  been  before,  in  this  refpedV,  that  all  the 
former  prophecies  were  in  figurative,  myflical  language, 
The  firfl:,  '  That  the  feed  of  the  woman  ihould  break  the 
?  ferpent's  head.' — The  promifes  made  to  Abraham,  Ifaac, 
and  Jacob,  '  That  in  their  feed  all  the  families  of  the  earth 
'  fhould  be  bleffed.' — The  prophecy  of  Jacob  in  bleffing 
Judah;— and  that  of  Balaam,  which  fpeaks  of  Chrill:  under 
the  figurative  expreffion  of  ay?(7r,— were  all  myflical.  But 
this  is  a  plain  literal  prophecy. 

There  are  feveral  things  contained  in  this  prophecy  of 
Chrift,  and  his  mediatorial  office,  [ver.  16.]— Here  it 
is  revealed  that  he  ihould  be  a  middle  perfon  between 
tliem  and  God,  a  being  of  fuch  awful  majefty,  holinefs, 
and  juftice,  that  they  could  not  come  to  him,  and  en- 
joy intercourfe  with  him  immediately,  without  a  medi- 
ator to  fland  between  them ;  becaufe,  if  they  came  to 
fuch  a  dreadful  fin-revenging  God  immediately,  they 
fhould  die;  God  would  prove  '  a  confuming  fire'  to  them. 
And  here  is  alfo  a  particular  revelation  of  Chrift  with 
refpe6l  to  his  prophetical  office:  '  I  will  raife  them  up  a 
'  prophet  from  among  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,'  &c. 
And  farther,  it  is  revealed  what  kind  of  a  prophet  he 
fhould  be,  a  prophet  like  Mofes,  who  was  the  head  and 
leader  of  all  the  people,  and  who,  under  God,  had  been 
their  redeemer,  to  bring  them  out  of  the  houfe  of  bond- 
age, who  was,  as  it  were,  their  fhepherd  by  whom  God 
led  them  through  the  Red  Sea  and  wildernefs,  and  was  an 
intercefTor  for  them  with  God,  and  both  a  prophet  and  a 
king  in  the  congregation  :  for  Mofes  had  the  power  of 
a  king  among  them.  [Deut.  xxxiii.  5.]  He  was  alfo  the 
prophet  by  whom  God  built  up  his  church,  and  delivered 
his  inftru6lions  of  worfhip.  Thus  Chrift  was  to  be  a 
prophet  like  unto  Moles ;    fo  that  this  is  both   the  plaineft 

and 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  187 

and  fullefl:  prophecy  of  Chrifl  that  ever  had  been  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  to  this  time,  (t) 

The  next  prophecy  that  I  fliall  take  notice  of,  refpe6ts 
only  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  which  fliould  be  after 
Chrift's  coining,  of  which  God  gave  a  very  plain  prophecy 
by  Mofes  in  the  wildernefs,  [Deut.  xxxii.  21.]  They 
moved  God  to  jealoufy,  by  that  which  was  not  a  god,  by 
carting  him  off,  and  taking  other  gods,  that  were  no  gods, 
in  his  room.  So  God  declares  that  he  will  move  them  to 
jealoufy  in  the  like  manner,  by  cafting  them  off,  and  taking 
other  people,  that  had  not  been  his  people,  in  their  room. 
The  apolUe  Paul  takes  notice  of  this  prophecy,  as  fore- 
telling the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  [in  Rom.  x.  19,  20.] 
«  But  I  fay,  did  not  Ifrael  know  ?  Firft,  Mofes  faith,  I 
'  will  provoke  you  to  jealoufy  by  them  that  are  no  peo- 
'  pie,  and  by  a  foolifh  nation  I  will  anger  you.  But 
'  Efaias  is  very  bold,  and  faith,  T  was  found  of  them  that 
'  fought  me  not  ;  I  was  made  manifeft  to  them  that  a{ked 
'  not  after  me.' 

Thus  you  fee  how  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  firfl: 
began  to  dawn  immediately  after  the  fall,  gradually  in- 
creafes  the  nearer  we  come  to  Chrifi's  time. 

10.  Another  tiling  by  which  God  carried  on  his  work 
at  this  time,  was  a  remarkable  pouring  out  of  his  fpirit 
on  the  young  generation  in  the  wildernefs.  The  genera- 
tion which  was  grown  up  when  they  came  out  of  Egypt, 
from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  was  very  fro  ward  and 
perverfe.     They  were  tainted  with  the  idolatry  and  wick- 

ednefs 


(t)  j4 prophet  Me  unto  MosEs.]  Some  Jewifli  writers  have  re- 
ferred this  to  Jofluia,  but  though  we  are  told  Jofliua  was  full  of 
the  fpirit  of  vfifdom,  yet  the  fame  text  [Deut.  xxxiv.  9.]  informs 
us,  '  there  arofe  not  a   prophet  fince  in    Ifrael  like  unto  Mofes, 

*  whom  the  Lord  knew  face  to  face  ;'  confequcntly  Jofhua  was 
not  fo.  And  in  another  paffage  [Numb.  xii.  2.]  The  Lord  puts 
a  ftriking  difference  between  Mofes,  and  all  other  prophets  :  The 
Jews  themfelves  veiy  ftrongly  confirm  this  idea  ;  and  in  the  New 
Teftament,  this  prophecy  is  exprefsly  applied  to  the  Son  of  God. 
[A(Ss  iii.  22,    23.]   *  For   Mofes  truly  faid,  a  prophet  will  the 

*  Lord  your  God  raife  up,'  &c.  [See  Nciuton  on  the  Proph. 
vol.  i.  dif.  6.1 


i88        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

ednefs  of  Egypt,  and  were  not  weaned  from  it,  as  the 
prophet  takes  notice,  [Ezek.  xx.  6—8.]  Hence  they  made 
the  golden  calf  in  imitation  of  the  idolatry  of  Egvpt,  that 
was  wont  to  worihip  a  bull  or  an  ox  ;  and  therefore  cattle 
are  called  '  the  abomination  of  the  Egyptians,'  i.  e.  their 
idol.  [Exod.  viii.  26.]  This  generation  God  was  exceed- 
ing angry  with,  and  fwore  in  his  wrath,  that  they  fhould 
not  enter  into  his  reft.  But  the  younger  generations  were 
not  fo  ;  thofe  who  were  under  twenty  years  old  when  they 
came  out  of  Egypt,  and  thofe  born  in  the  wildernefs,  the 
generation  fpoken  of,  [Numb.  xiv.  31.]  '  But  your  little 
'  ones,  whom  ye  faid  fliould  be  a  prey,  them  will  I  bring 

*  in  ;  and  they  fhall  know  the  land  that  ye  have  defpifed.' 
This  was  the  generation  with  whom  the  covenant  was  re- 
newed, (of  which  we  have  an  account  in  Deuteronomy,) 
and  that  entered  into  the  land  of  Canaan.  Thefe  God 
was  pleafed  to  m.ake  a  generation  to  his  praife,  and  they 
were  eminent  for  piety  ;  as  appears  by  many  things  faid  in 
fcripture   about  them;    as,  particularly,    [Jer.    ii.    2,   3.] 

*  I  remember  thee,  the  kindnefs  of  thy  youth,  the  love 

*  of  thine  efpoufals,  when  thou  wenteft  after  me  in  the 
'  wildernefs,  in  a  land  that  was  not  fown.  Ifrael  was 
'  holinels  to  the  Lord,  and  the  firft  fruits  of  his  increafe.' 
Here  the  generation  that  went  after  God  in  the  wilder- 
nefs is  fpoken  of  with  very  high  commendations,  as  emi- 
nent for  holinefs  :  '  Ifrael  was  holinefs  to  the  Lord,  and 
'  the  tirft  fruits  of  his  increafe.'  And  their  love  to  God 
is  fpoken  of  as  diftinguiihed  like  the  love  of  a  bride  at 
her  efpoufals.  The  going  after  God  in  the  wildernefs 
here  fpoken  of,  is  not  the  going  of  the  children  of  Ifrael 
out  of  Egypt  inro  the  wildernefs  of  Sinai,  but  their  fol- 
lowing God  through  that  dreadful  wildernefs,  that  the 
congregation  long  wandered  in,  atter  they  went  back  from 
Kadelh-Barnea,  [Dcut.  viii.  15.  j  '  Who  led  thee  through 
>  the  great  and  terrible  wildernefs,   wherein  were  fiery  fer- 

*  pcnts  and  fcorpions,  and  drought,  where  there  was  no 
«  water.'  Though  this  generation  had  a  much  greater  trial, 
than  their  fathers  had  before  they  «came  to  Kadefh-Barnea, 
yet  they  never  mr.rmured  againft  God  in  any  wife,  as  their 

fathers 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  189 

fathers  had  done  :  but  their  trials  liad  a  contrary  effecl 
upon  them,  to  awaken,  convince,  and  humble  them,  and 
fit  them  for  great  mercy.  They  were  awakened  by  the 
awful  judgments  of  God  infli6led  on  their  fathers,  where- 
by their  carcales  fell  in  the  wildernefs.  And  God  pour- 
ed out  his  fpirit  with  thofe  awakening  providences  to- 
wards their  fathers,  and  their  own  travel  in  the  wilder- 
nefs, and  the  word  preached  to  them  by  Mofes  ;  whereby 
they  were  made  to  fee  the  badnefs  of  their  own  hearts, 
and  were  humbled,  and  at  length  multitudes  of  them 
favingly  converted  ;  [as  Dcut.  viii.  2,  3.]  '  And  thou 
'  flialt  remember  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led 
'  thee  thefe  forty  years  in  the  wildernefs,  to  humble  thee 

*  and  to  prove  thee,  to  know  what  was  in  thine  heart, 
'  whether  thou  wouldft  keep  his  commandments  or  no.' 
And  [ver.  15.]   '   Who   led   thee   through  tliat  great  and 

*  terrible  wildernefs,— that  he   might  humble   thee,  and 

*  that  he  might  prove  thee,  to  do  thee  good  at  the  latter 

*  end.'    (u)      And  therefore  it  is    faid,  Hof.   xiii.  5.    '  I 

'  did 

(u)  If rael  led  through  the  nv'ildernefs  to  do  them  good.~\  Here  is 
the  great  fecret  of  Divine  Providence.  Infinite  wifdom  and  good- 
nefs  is  the  fource  of  all  the  vicifiitudes  and  trials  believers  are  called 
to  experience.  Ifrael  was  led  through  the  wildernefs,  and  had 
many  bitter  trials  there,  but  it  was  '  to  do  them  good.' 

Obferve,  i.  That  pride  is  natural  to  the  human  heart ;  and  no 
degree  of  meannefs,  wretchednefs,  or  dependence,  can  exclude  it. 
Like  fome  difgufting  animals,  who  extraiil  polfon  from  the  moil 
harmlefs  vegetables  ;  pride  inflates  itfelf  from  circumllances  the 
moft  humiliating.  Would  one  fuppofe  that  a  people,  after  forty 
years  flavery  at  the  brick  kilns — after  being  treated  as  the  off- 
fcouring  of  the  earth,  and  degraded  to  the  very  lowed  degree — 

fhould  need  the  thorns  of  the  wildernefs  to  humble  them  ? 

But  fuch  is  man  ! 

2.  The  beft  things  are  not  always  the  pleafanteft  ;  but  the  moft 
efficacious  medicines  are  often  the  moft  unpalatable.  Ifrael,  as  we 
have  obferved,  met  with  many  painful  and  mortifying  circum- 
ftances  in  the  defcrt,  but  it  was  to  do  them  good.  Humbling 
providences  are  often  our  greateft  mercies. 

3.  Mercies  are  doubly  fweet  when  intermingled  with  trials. 
Contrafts  produce  great  effefts  in  nature  ;  and  it  is  by  comparilon 
with  other  objetts  we  form  our  mofl  correifl  ideas  of  the  excellent 
and  beautiful.     So  pain  and  ficknefs  teach  the  value  of  health  and 

eafe ; 


190  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  did  know  thee  in  the  wildernefs,  in  the  land  of  great 

•  drought.'  God  allured  them,  and  hrought  them  into  the 
wildernefs,  and  fpake  comfortably  to  them,  as  it  was  fore- 
told that  he  would  do  afterwards.   [Hof.  ii.  14.] 

Thofe  terrible  judgments  that  were  executed  in  the 
congregation  after  their  turning  back  from  Kadefh-Barnea, 
in  the  matter  of  Korah,  and  Peor,  were  chiefly  on  the 
old  generation,  whom  God  confumed  in  the  wildernefs. 
Thofe  rebellions  were  chiefly  among  the  elders  of  the  con- 
gregation, that  God  had  given  up  to  their  hearts  luft  ;  and 
they  walked  in  their  own  counfels,  and  God  was  grieved 
with  their  manners  forty  years  in  the  wildernefs. 

'  But  that  this  younger  congregation  were  eminent  for 
piety,  appears  by  all  their  hiftory.  The  former  generation 
were  wicked,  and  were  followed  with  curfes  ;  but  this  was 
holy,  and  wonderful  bleffings  followed  them.  God  did 
great  things  for  them  ;  he  fought  for  them,  and  gave  them 
the  polTeffion  of  Canaan.  And  it  is  God's  manner,  when 
he  hath  any  fpecial  mercy  to  beflow  on  a  vifible  people, 
firll:,  to  fit  them  for,  and  then  to  bellow  it  on  them.  So 
here,  they  believed  in  God,  and  by  faith  overcame  Sihon 
and  Og,  and  the  giants  of  Canaan  ;  and  are  commended 
for  cleaving  to  the  Lord:  [Jo(h.  xxiii.  8.]  Jolhua  fays 
unto  them,  '  Cleave  unto  the  Lord,  as  ye  have  done  unto 

*  this  day.'  And  fo  Ifrael  did  all  the  while  that  genera- 
tion lived.  But  when  Jolhua  and  all  that  generation  were 
dead,  there  arofe  another  that  knew  not  the  Lord.  This 
pious  generation  fliowed  a  laudable  and  fervent  zeal  for 
God  in  feveral  inflances  ;  as  on  occafion  of  Achan's  hn  ; 
but  efpecially  when  they  fufpe6led  the  two  tribes  and  a 
half  had  fet  up  an  altar  in  oppofition  to  the  altar  of 
burnt-offering.  There  never  was  any  generation  of  Ifrael 
of  which  fo  much  good  and  fo  little  evil    is   mentioned 

as 


eafe ;  and  to  hunger  and  thirft  we  principally  owe  our  rclifli  for 
food.  Therefore  it  is,  that  the  Lord  mingled  the  cup  of  his  peo- 
ple with  a  contrariety  of  ingredients.  Let  us  then  receive  it  thank- 
fully, with  this  confolation,  that  the  fweetnefs  of  our  comforts  will 
remain  when  every  tafte  of  bitternefs  is  loll  and  forgot  for  ever. 

[U.  U.] 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  191 

as  this.  It  is  farther  obfervablc,  that  in  the  time  of  this 
generation  was  the  fccond  general  circumcifion,  whereby 
the  reproach  of  Ifrael  was  fully  rolled  away,  and  they  be- 
came pure  ;  and  when  afterwards  they  were  polluted  by 
Achan,  they  purged  themfelves  again.  [Jolh.  vii.  19— 
26.]     (\v) 

The  men  of  the  former  generation  being  dead,  and 
God  having  fanftified  this  to  himfelf,  he  folemnly  renew- 
ed his  covenant  with  them,  [Deut.  xxix.]  We  find 
that  fuch  renovations  of  the  covenant  commonly  ac- 
companied any  remarkable  pouring-out  of  the  Spirit, 
which  caufed  a  general  reformation  ;  fo  we  i^nd  it  was 
in  Hezekiah's  and  Jofiah's  times.  But  it  is  queftionable 
whether  there  ever  was  a  time  when  religion  fo  flouriilied 
in  the  Ifraelitifli  church,  as  in  that  generation;  and  as,  in 
the  Chriitian  church,  religion  was  in  its  moft  flouriihing 
circumilances  in  the  day  of  its  efpoufals,  in  the  apolIJe's 
time,  fo  it  feems  to  have  been  with  the  Jewifli  church 
in  the  days  of  its  hrft  eftabliihment  in  Mofes  and 
Joihua's. 

Thus  God  at  this  time  did  glorioufly  advance  the  work 
of  redemption,  both  by  his  word  and  Spirit.  By  tins 
out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  the  work  of  redemption 
was  promoted,  not  only  as  it  was  in  itfclf  a  glorious  in- 
ftance  of  the  application  of  it,  but  as  this  was  what  God 
made  ufe  of  as  a  means  of  eftablifliing  the  church  of 
Ifrael  at  its  firil  beginning,  when  it  was  fettled  in  the 
regular  obfervance  of  God's  ordinances  in  Canaan :  even 
as  the  out-pouring  of  the  fpirit,  in  the  beginning  of  tin". 
Chriftian  ciiurch,  was  a  great  means  God  made  ufe  of 
for  the  well  eflabliihing  it  in  the  world  in  all  fucceeding 
ages. 

C  c  II.  The 

(w)  Theywere  polluted  by  Ac  H.\}i.']  Obfcrve  here  the  dange- 
rous nature  of  fin,  \vhicli  not  only  brings  deftruftion  on  indivi- 
duals, but  on  whole  nations  and  communities  ;  and  no  fin  has  pro- 
duced more  awful  confequcnccs  than  this  of  covetoufnefs,  which, 
indeed,  is  the  parent  of  moll  others.  Whence  flowed  the  blood 
that  has  llained  families — encrimfoned  towns — and  deluged  na- 
tions? From  this  curfed  principle,  which  brings  raifery  on  the 
poffeffor,  and  ruin  on  all  around  him.  [U.S.] 


192        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

1 1 .  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  was  God's  bring- 
ing the  people  of  Tfrael  \inder  the  hand  of  Jofhua,  and 
fettling  them  in  that  land  where  Chrift  was  to  be  born, 
and  which  was  the  great  type  of  the  heavenly  Canaan, 
which  Chrift  has  purchafed.  This  was  done  by  Jofliua, 
who  was  of  Jofeph's  poftcrity,  and  was  an  eminent  type 
of  Chrift,  and  is  therefore  called  '  the  lliepherd,  the  ftone 
'  of  Ifrael,'  in  Jacob's  bleffing  of  Jofeph.  [Gen.  xlix.  24.] 
(x)  Being  fuch  a  type  of  Chrift,  he  bore  the  name  of 
Chrift.  JoJJiua  and  jefus  are  the  fame  name,  only  the  one 
is  Hebrew,  the  other  Greek  ;  and  therefore,  in  the  New 
Teftament,  which  was  originally  written  in  Greek,  Joihua 
is  called  Jefns.  [A6l:s  vii.  4^.]  '  Which  alfo  our  fathers 
'  brought  in  with  Jefus,'  i.e.  JoJJiua;  [Heb.  iv.  8.]  '  If 
'  Jefus,  i.  e.  if  JoJIiua  had  given  them  reft,  he  would  not 
'  have  fpoken  of  another  day.' 

God  wonderfully  poffefled  his  people  of  this  land,  con- 
quering the  former  inhabitants  of  it,  and  the  mighty 
giants,  as  Chrift  conquered  the  devil ;  firft  fubduing  the 
gieat  kings  of  that  part  of  the  land  that  was  on  the  eaftern 
fide  of  Jordan,  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites,  and  Og  king 
of  Balhan  ;  and  then  dividing  the  river  Jordan,  as  before 
he  had  done  the  Red  Sea  ;  caufmg  the  walls  of  Jericho  to 
fall  down  at  the  found  of  the  trumpets  of  the  priefts ;  (that 
typifying  the  found  of  the  gofjtel  by  the  preaching  of  gofpel 
minifters,  and  the  walls  of  the  accurfed  city  Jericho,  the 
walls  of  Satan's  kingdom  ;)  and  after  thus  wonderfully  de- 
ftroying  the  mighty  hoft  of  the  Amorites  under  the  five 
kings,  caufmg  the  fun  and  moon  to  ftand  ftill,  to  help  the 
people  againft  their  enemies,  at  the  prayer  of  the  typical 

Jefus  ; 

(x)  Shepherd,  the  Jione  of  Ifrael,]  i.e.  From  Jacob  defcended 
Jofeph  ;  or,  from  the  God  of  Jacob  it  was  that  Jofeph,  through 
Divine  Providence,  was  fent  into  Eg-ypt,  to  be  a  ihepherd  to  feed 
his  father's  family,  and  as  a  ftone  to  uphold  and  fupport  it ;  in 
which  he  was  a  type  of  Chriit,  the  great  and  good  (hepherd  of 
the  flock,  and  the  ftone  that  is  laid  in  Zion,  on  which  the  whole 
fpiritual  Ifrael  of  God  is  built ;  the  foundation  ftone  on  which 
they  aie  laid  and  are  fafe,  and  the  corner  ftone  which  knits  them 
together.      [Pf.  cxviii.  22.] — [Gill  in  loc] 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  193 

Jefus  ;  [  Jof.  X.  12.]  plainly  fignifying  this,  that  God  would 
make  the  whole  courfe  of  nature  to  be  fubfervient  to  the 
affair  of  redemption  ;  fo  that  every  thing  Ihould  yield  to 
the  purpofes  of  that  work,  and  give  place  to  the  welfare  of 
God's  redeemed  people. 

Thus  did  Chriffc  ihow  his  great  love  to  his  eleft,  that 
he  would  make  the  courfe  of  nature  to  give  place  to  their 
happinefs  and  profperity  ;  and  fliowed  that  the  fun  and 
moon,  and  all  things  vifd')le  and  invilible,  were  theirs 
by  his  purchafe.  (y)  At  the  fame  time,  Chrift  fought  as 
the  captain  of  their  hoft,  and  call  down  great  hailftones 
upon  their  enemies,  by  which  more  were  flain  than  by 
the  fvvord  of  the  children  of  Ifrael.     And  after  this  he 

gave 

(y)  All  things  are  ovv.s.']  "  Chriftians,  God  has  created  all 
things  in  the  world  of  nature  with  this  defign,  that  you  Hiould  derive 
fome  benefit  from  them,  as  far  as  they  can  come  within  your  reach, 
or  notice,  your  fervice  or  ufe.  He  appointed  all  things  in  the 
couniels  of  his  providence,  to  bear  fome  bleffing  for  you.  He  has 
ordained  all  things  in  his  kingdom  of  grace  for  your  advantage  ; 
and  there  are  unknown  regions  of  light  and  glory  which  he  has 
provided  for  you.  His  elefL  were  ever  nearell  to  his  heart,  next  to 
the  man  Chrift  Jefus,  next  to  *  his  only  begotten  Son  ;'  for  they 
were  all '  chofen  in  him  before  the  foundation  of  the  world.'  [Eph. 
i.  4.]  Whether  creation  or  providence,  whether  nature,  grace,  or 
glory,  *  all  things  are  for  youi  fakes.'     [2  Cor.  iv.  15.] 

*'  I  would  caution  you  ....  not  to  underftand  it  in  fuch  an 
incredible  fenfe,  as  though  God  made  every  particular  creature  in 
the  upper  and  the  lower  worlds,  only  to  give  the  pofTeffion  of  them 
to  the  faints  ;  or  that  he  manages  all  his  providential  kingdom 
merely  for  the  fake  of  his  own  people,  without  any  other  view. 
No,  this  is  flretching  the  words  into  an  extent  too  large  and  un- 
reafonable  ;  for  there  arc  millions  of  creatures,  millions  of  plants 
and  animals  in  earth  and  fea,  that  are  born,  and  grow,  and  live, 
and  die  again,  which  the  faints  of  God  never  favv,  nor  knew,  nor 
fliall  know  ;  nor  can  they  receive  any  immediate  benefit  from 
them.  But  the  meaning  Is  this,  that  all  things  whatfoever  the 
faints  can  or  fliall  have  to  do  within  this  or  other  worlds,  were 
intended  to  yield  fome  profit  to  them  ;  and  efpeclally  while  they 
maintain  their  charafter  as  the  children  of  God,  and  walk  as  be- 
comes their  dignity  and  tlieir  profeflion.  In  all  God's  general 
counfels  of  creation,  and  providence,  and  grace,  he  kept  his  eye 
(as  I  may  fay)  ftlU  upon  his  faints  ;  he  defigned  their  good  in  ten 
thoufand  inllances,  in  his  great  and  glorious  works,  and  rcfolved 
C  c  2  that 


194        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

gzve  the  people  a  mighty  victory  over  a   yet  greater  army 
in  the  northern  part  ot  the  land,  that  were  gathered  to- 
gether 

that  nothing  in  all  his  kingdoms  fhould  interfere  with  their  laft  and 
beft  intereft. 

*'  Though  what  he  has  written  down  in  the  book  of  his  decrees, 
is  read  only  at  large  by  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift,  yet  he  has  written  out 
a  fweet  abftraci:  of  it  in  the  book  of  his  promifes,  that  the  faints  on 
earth  might  read  and  know  it.    [Rom.  viii.  28.]      '  And  v/e  know 

*  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God  ; 

*  to  them,  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpofe.'  It  was  for 
their  fakes  the  promifes  were  written,  that  they  might  not  only 
have  a  prefent  relifh  of  divine  bleflings,  but  a  fweet  foretaftc  of 
joys  long  to  come. 

"  The  bleflings  of  the  children  of  God  were  numbered  up,  and 
written  down  originally  for  them,  in  the  book  of  God's  everlafting 
counfels  :   and  in  the  book  of  his  word  has  he  copied  out  of  them  ; 

*  the  bleflings  of  heaven  from  above,  and  of  the  deep  from  beneath ; 
'  the  precious  things  brought  forth  by  the  fun,'  and  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  moon  ;  '  the  chief  things  of  the  ancient  mountains' 
on  earth,  fo  far  as  is  needful  for  them  here  ;  '  and  the  precious 
'  things  of  the  everlafting  hills'  of  paradife  hereafter.  [Deut. 
xxxiii.   13,  14.] 

"  Does  the  great  Creator  and  Lord  of  all  keep  the  wheels  of 
nature  in  their  fettled  courfes?    It  is  for  the  people's  good  ;  '  The 

*  liars  in  their  courfes  fhall  fight  for  Ifrael:'  or  does  he  countermand 
nature  in  any  of  its  motions,  and  bid  the  '  fun  fl:and  ftill  in  Gibeon, 
'  and  the  moon  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon?'  It  is,  that  the  armies  of 
his  people  may  have  long  day-light  to  fiibduc  their  enemies.  Hail- 
ftones  and  thunder  fliall  break  out  of  the  clouds  to  deftroy  the  Ca- 
naanites,  when  Ifrael  is  at  war  with  them  :  but  if  Ifrael  want  bread 
in  the  wildernefs,  the  clouds  fliall  drop  down  manna,  and  give  them 
bread  from  heaven."    [Watts's  Sermons,  vol.  iii.  fer.  38.] 

With  refpeft  to  the  miracle  wrought  by  Jofliua,  we  beg  leave 
to  add,  there  is  no  neceflity,  from  the  text,  to  fuppofe  any  real 
eff"e6l  wrought  on  the  bodies  of  the  fun  or  moon,  nor  perhaps  of 
the  eaith  itfelf ;  the  moll  natural  interpretation  feems  to  he,  that 
the  light  of  the  fun,  and  perhaps  alfo  of  the  moon  blended  with 
it,  was  miraculoufly  protrafted,  not,  it  may  be,  on  the  whole  he- 
mifphere,  but  from  Gibeon  to  Ajalon,  and  on  the  adjacent  coun- 
try. This  is  confirmed  by  the  obfervation  of  fome  learned  men, 
that  the  Hebrew  words  [ii'Di:'  and  m']  are  never  ufed  flridly  for 
the  orbs  themfelves,  (the  language  haying  other  words  forthefe) 
but  for  the  light  emitted  from  them.  So  that,  in  fa6^,  the  light 
might  be  continued  all  night,  and  thus  two  days  blended  together, 
or,  as  the  fon  of  Sirach  exprefles  it,   [Ecclef.  xlvi.  4.]  '  one  day 

*  as  long  as  two.'      [Sec  Pike's  Phil.  Sac.  p.  47.  and  Gill  on 

jofli.  X.  13.]  •  [i.N.:i 


FROM  MOSES  TO   DAVID.  195 

gcther  at  the  waters  of  Merom,  as  the  fand  of  the  fea  (hore, 
[Jofh.  xi.  4.] 

12-  Another  thing  that  God  did  towards  carrying  on 
this  affair,  was  his  adlually  fetting  up  his  ftated  worftiip 
among  the  people,  as  it  liad  been  before  inflituted  in  the 
wilderncfs.  This  worfhip  was  appointed  at  Mount  Sinai, 
wholly  in  fubferviency  to  this  great  affair  of  redemp- 
tion. It  was  to  make  way  for  tlie  coming  of  Chrifl  ; 
and  the  innumerable  ceremonial  obfervances  of  it  were 
typical  of  him  and  his  redemption.  This  worfliip  was 
chiefly  inftituted  at  Mount  Sinai  ;  but  it  was  gradually 
put  in  pradtice.  It  was  partly  fet  up  in  the  wildernefs, 
where  the  tabernacle  and  its  vefTels  were  made  ;  but  there 
were  many  parts  of  this  inflituted  worfhip  that  could  not 
be  obferved  in  the  wildernefs,  by  reafon  of  their  unlet- 
tled,  itinerant  ftate  there :  and  then  there  were  many  pre- 
cepts that  refpe61:ed  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  their  cities 
and  places  of  habitation  there  ;  which  therefore  could 
not  be  put  in  pradlice,  till  thev  came  into  the  land.  But 
pow,  when  this  was  brought  to  pafs,  God  fet  up  his 
tabernacle  in  the  midft  of  his  people,  as  he  had  before 
promifed  them,  [Lev.  xxiv.  11.]  '  I  will  fet  my  taber- 
'  nacle  amongft  you.*  The  tabernacle  was  fet  up  at  Shi- 
loh,  [Jolh.  xviii.  j.J  and  the  priefls  and  Levites  had 
their  offices  appointed  them,  and  the  cities  of  refuge  were 
alio  appointed  ;  and  now  the  people  were  in  condition  to 
cbferve  their  feafts  of  the  firft  fruits,  and  their  feaft  of 
ingathering,  and  to  bring  all  the  tithes  and  offerings  to 
the  Lord  ;  and  moft  parts  of  God's  worlhip  were  now 
obferved,  though  f:here  were  fome  things  that  were  not 
jill  afterwards. 

13.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's 
wonderfully  preferving  the  people,  from  this  time  for- 
ward, when  all  the  lualcs  went  up,  three  times  in  the 
year,  to  the  place  where  the  ark  was.  The  people  of  If- 
rael  were  generally  furrounded  with  enemies,  that  fought 
all  opportunities  to  deflroy,  anj  difpoffefs  them  of  their 
land  ;  and  till  David's  time  there  were  great  numbers  in 
the  land  of  the  remains  of  the  Canaanites,  and  the  other 

former 


196        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

former  inhabitants,  that  were  bitter  enemies  to  the  people 
of  Ifrael :  and  thefe  had  from  year  to  year,  three  times  in 
the  year,  a  fair  opportunity  of  over-running  their  coun- 
try, and  getting  poflefTion  of  their  cities,  when  all  the 
rnales  were  gone,  and  only  the  women  and  thofe  who 
were  not  able  to  go  up,  were  left  behind  :  yet  they  were 
remarkably  preferved  throughout  all  generations  at  fuch 
feafons,  agreeable  to  the  promife  that  God  had  made, 
[Exod.  xxxiv.  24.]  '  Neither  fliall  any  man  defire  thy 
'  land,  when  thou  ihalt  go  up  to  appear  before  the  Lord 
*  thy  God  thrice  in  the  year.'  So  wonderfully  did  God 
order  affairs,  and  influence  the  hearts  of  their  enemies, 
that  though  they  were  fo  full  of  enmity  againft  Ifrael,  and 
defired  to  difpofTefs  them  of  their  land,  and  had  frequently 
fo  fair  an  opportunity  ;  yet  we  never  read,  in  all  their 
hiflorv,  of  any  of  their  enemies  taking  thefe  opportunities 
againft  them.  This  was  furely  a  wonderful  difpenfation 
of  divine  Providence  ;  to  maintain  and  promote  God's 
great  defign  of  redemption. 

14.  God's  preferving  his  church  and  the  true  religion 
from  being  wholly  extindl  in  the  frequent  apoftafies  of 
the  Ifraeliies  in  the  time  of  tlie  Judges.  How  prone  was 
that  people  to  forfake  the  true  God,  who  had  done  fuch 
wonderful  things  for  them,  and  to  fall  into  idolatry  i  And 
how  did  the  land,  from  time  to  time,  feem  to  be  almoft 
over-run  with  it  !  But  vet  God  never  futFered.  his  true 
worfhip  to  be  totally  rooted  out :  his  tabernacle  ftood,  the 
ark  was  preferved,  the  book  of  the  law  was  kept  from 
being  deftroyed,  God's  pricfthood  was  upheld,  and  God 
flill  had  a  church  among  the  people  ;  and  time  after 
time,  when  religion  was  come  to  the  laft  extremity,  then 
God  granted  a  revival,  and  fent  fome  angel,  or  raifed 
up  fome  eminent  perfon,  to  be  an  inftrument  of  their 
reformation. 

i^.  God's  preferving  that  nation  from  being  deftroyed? 
and  delivering  them  from  time  to  time,  although  they  were 
fo  often  fubdued  and  broi'ght  under  the  dominion  of  their 
enemies.  It  is  a  wonder,  not  only  that  the  true  religion 
was  not  wholly  rooted  out,  and  fo  the  church  deftroyed 

that 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  197 

tliat  way ;  but  alfo  that  the  very  nation  in  which  that 
church  was,  was  not  utterly  deftroyed.  One  while  they 
were  fubdued  by  Chuflian-riihataim  king  of  Mefopotamia, 
another  while  under  the  Moabites;  they  were  fold  into 
the  hand  of  Jabin  king  of  Canaan  ;  they  were  brought 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Midianites  ;  were  forely  dif- 
trefled  by  the  children  of  Ammon;  and  afterward  by  the 
Philillines.  But  yet  God,  in  all  thefe  dangers,  prefcrved 
them  from  being  wholly  overthrown  ;  and  from  time  to 
time,  when  it  was  come  to  extremity,  and  they  were  upon 
the  very  brink  of  ruin,  God  raifed  up  a  deliverer,  [Deut. 
xxxii.    36.]  '   For  the   Lord   ihall  judge  his  people,  and 

*  repent  himfelf  for   his  fervants ;    when  he   feeth    their 

*  power  is  gone,  and  there  is  none  fluU  up  or  left.' 

Thefe  remarkable  difpenfations  of  Providence  are  fet 
forth  in  a  lively  and  elegant  manner  in  the  cvith  Pfalm. 

Thefe  deliverers  that  God  raifed  up  from  time  to  time 
were  all  types  of  Chrift,  the  great  Redeemer  of  his  church  ; 
and  fome  of  them  very  remarkably  fo  ;  as,  particularly, 
Barak,  Jephthah,  Gideon,  Samfon,  in  many  particulars ; 
efpecially  in  the  a6ts  of  Samfon,  as  might  be  ihown,  were 
it  not  that  this  would  take  up  too  much  time,    (z) 

16.  It 

(  z  )  Inftead  of  running  through  the  various  particulars  in  which 
thefe  worthies  may  be  fuppofcd  to  have  typified  the  Redeemer,  it 
may  be  more  ufeful  to  fubjoin  the  following  remarks  on  typical 
charaftcrs  in  general  : 

**  I.  In  order  to  conftitute  a  proper  type  it  is  by  no  means 
necefTary,  that  the  perfon  who  anfwers  tliis  important  purpofc 
fliould  poflefs  perfect  moral  qualities  ;  were  this  requifite,  who 
ever  was  worthy  to  rcprefent  the  Son  of  God  ? ....  It  will 
follow, 

"  2.  That  the  comparifon  is  not  to  be  ftatcd  and  purfued 
through  every  particular  incident  of  the  life,  and  every  feature  of 
the  perfon  typifying.  .  .  . 

**  3.  Scripture  by  direft  application,  or  by  fair  unftrained  ana- 
logy, ought  therefore  to  lead,  to  regulate,  and  to  correft  all  our 
inquiries  of  this  fort.  .   .  . 

"  4.  ...  It  is  of  importance  to  inquire,  whether  or  not  the 
refemblance  we  mean  to  purfue,  has  a  tendency  to  promote  foms 
moral,  praftical,  pious  purpofe."  [Hunter's  Sac.  13Iog.  vol.  ii. 
Iecl.5.J 


198        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

16.  It  is  obfervable,  that  when  Chrift  came  to  manage 
the  affairs  of  his  church  in  this  period,  he  often  appeared 
in  the  form  of  that  nature  that  he  took  upon  him  in  his 
incarnation.  So  he  feems  to  have  appeared  to  Mofes  from 
time  to  time,  and  particularly  at  that  time  when  God  fpakc 
to  him  face  to  face,  as  a  man  fpeaketh  to  his  friend,  and 
he  beheld  the  fimilitude  of  the  Lord  [Numb.  xii.  8.]  after 
he  had  befought  him  to  (how  him  his  glory  ;  which  was 
the  mofl  remarkable  vifion  that  ever  he  had  of  Chrift. 
There  was  a  twofold  difcovery  that  Mofes  had  of  Chrift  :  . 
one  was  fpiritual,  when  he  proclaimed  his  name,   '  The 

*  Lord,  the  Lord  God,  merciful   and   gracious,  long-fuf- 

*  fering,    and    abundant    in   goodnefs    and   truth,    keeping 

*  mercy  for  thoufands,  forgiving  iniquity  and  tranfgreflion 

*  and  fni,  and  that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty  ;  vi- 
<  fiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children,  and 
'  upon  the  childrens  children,  unto  the  third  and  to  the 

*  fourth  generation.'  [Exod.  xxxiv.  6,  &c.]  Another  was 
external  ;  which  was  that  which  Mofes  faw,  when  Chrift 
paffed  by,  and  put  him  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock,  and  covered 
him  with  his  hand,  fo  that  Mofes  faw  his  back-parts. 
What  he  faw  was  doubtlefs  the  back-parts  of  a  glorious 
human  form,  in  which  Chrift  appeared  to  him,  and  in  all 
likelihood  the  form  of  his  glorified  human  nature,  in  which 
he  fliould  afterwards  appear.  He  faw  not  his  face  ;  for 
it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed  that  any  man  could  fubfift  under 
a  fight  of  the  glory  of  Chrift's  human  nature  as  it  now 
appears. 

So  it  was  an  human  form  in  which  Chrift  appeared  to 
the  feventy  elders.  [Exod.  xxiv.  9 — 11.]  '  Then  went 
up  Mofes  and  Aaron,  Nadab  and  Abihu,  and  feventy 
of  the  elders  of  Ifrael.  And  they  faw  the  God  of  If- 
rael :  and  there  was  under  his  feet,  as  it  were  a  paved 
work  of  a  fapphire-ftone,  and  as  it  weie  the  body  of 
heaven  in  his  clearnefs.  And  upon  the  nobles  of  the 
children  of  Ifrael  he  laid  not '  his  hand :  alfo  they 
faw  God,  and  did  eat  and  drink.*'  So  Chrift  appeared 
afterwards  to  Jofhua  in  the  form  of  the  human  nature, 
[Jolh.  v,  13,  14.]    '  And  it  came   to  pafs  when   Jolhua 

'   was 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  199 

*  was  by  Jericlio,  he  life  up  his  eyes,  and  looked,  and  be- 

*  hold,  there  ftood  a  man  over  againft  him,  with  a  fword 
'  drawn  in  his  hand:  and  Jolhua  went  unto  him,  and 
'  laid  unto  him,  Art  thou  for  us,  or  for  our  advcrfaries  ? 
'  And  he  faid.    Nay,    but  as  captain  of  the  hoft  of  the 

*  Lord  am  I  now  come.'  And  fo  he  appeared  to  Gideon, 
[Judg.  vi.  II,  &c.]  and  fo  alio  to  Manoah,  [chap,  xiii, 
17—21.]  ilere  Chrift  appeared  to  !Manoah  in  a  repre- 
fentation  botli  of  his  incarnation  and  death  ;  of  his  in- 
carnation, in  that  he  appeared  in  a  human  form ;  and  of 
his  deatii  and  fullcrings,  reprefented  by  his  afcending  up 
in  the  flame  of  the  facrifice  ;  intimating  thereby,  that  lie 
was  to  be  tlie  great  facritice,  that  mull:  be  offered  up  to 
God  for  a  fweet  favour,  in  the  fire  of  his  wrath,  as  that  kid 
was  burned  and  alcended  up  in  the  flame.  Chriic  thus 
appeared,  time  after  time,  in  the  torm  of  that  nature  lie 
was  afterwards  to  afiume,  becaufehe  now  came  on  the  fame 
delign,  and  to  carry  on  the  fame  work,  that  he  was  to 
finilh  in  that  nature,  (a)  Another  thing  I  would  men- 
tion, 

(a)  Quvi^i^T  appeared 'in  the  human  f'jrm.~\  Having  repeatedly 
intimated  an  intention  of  coniidciing  thefe  appearances  in  a  col- 
lected view,  we  fhall  now  attempt  it.  But  to  lave  repetition,  we 
muft  beg  the  reader  to  review  our  author's  obfervations  on  the  Di- 
vine appearance  to  Jacob,  (p.  157)  and  to  Mofes,  (p.  167)  as 
well  as  thofe  mentioned  under  thit  head,  and  then  he  will  be  pre- 
pared to  accompany  us  in  the  following  remarks  : 

I.  The  divine  Perlon  who  appears,  is  frequently  called  by  the 
auguit  names  of  'Jehovah  and  Elohlni,  Lord  and  God.  This  is  parti- 
cularly obfervable  in  the  appearances  to  Jacob  and  Mofes;  we  flidll 
only  inftance  in  the  former.     We  are  told,   [Gen.  xxxii.  24,  &:c.3 

*  Jacob  was  left  alone,  and  there  wreilled  a  man  with  him  until 

*  the  breaking  of  the  day:'  whatever  is  the  meaning  of  this  ex- 
traordinary circumilance,  it  is  certain  that  Jacob  was  aware  of 
his  viiltor,  by  his  fo  earnellly  entreating  his  blefling,  but  more 
cfpecially  by  his  calling  the  name  of  that  place  Penuel,  (/.  e.  the 
face  of  God)  becaufe  he  had  '  feen  God  facj  to  face.'  Jacob 
feems  to  advert  to  this  circumftance  in  the  lall  (lage  of  his  life, 
for,  blefiing  the   fons  of  Jofcph,  he  fays,  '  The  angel  that  re- 

*  deemed  me  blcfs  the  lads.'  But  mod  remarkable  is  a  paflagc 
in  the  Proph'-t  Hofca,   [ch.  xii.  4.]   relating  to  ihis  circumilance; 

*  He  had  power  over  the  angel,  and  prevailed:'  tliis  refers  to  his 
wrelUing,  which  was  doubtlcls  a  fymbolical  action:    'He  wept, 

D  d  *  and 


200        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

tiim,  clone  in  tliis  period  towards  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion, is  the  beginning  of  tlie  fuccefiion  of  prophets,   and 

eredling 

*  and  made  fiipplication  unto  him;'  when  he  would  not  let  him  go 
without  a  blcflir/g ;    '  He  found  him  in  Bethel ;    there  he  fpake 

*  with  us.      Even  the  Lord  God  \  Jehovah  Elohiml  of  hofts;  the 

*  Lord  \_j'eJxjvah]  is  his  memorial;'  /.  e.  the  name  by  which  he 
will  be  known.  [See  Otven  on  the  Hebrews,  vol.  i.  p.  1 18.]  And 
it  is  obfervable,  that  the  perfon  appearing  in  moft  of  thefe  vifions 
feems  to  be  called  promifcuoufly  both  the  Lord  and  the  angel  of 
the  Lord. 

2.  The  manner  in  which  this  angel  fpeaks  is  very  obfervable, 
and  fuch  as  no  created  being  ought  to  afliime.  The  angel  that 
appeared  to  Hagar  faid,  '  I  will  multiply  thy  feed  exceedingly ;' 
[Gen.  xvi.  ic]  To  Abraham,  '  Thou  haft  not  withheld  thy  fon 
'  from.  me\^   [Gen.  xxii.  12.]    And  to  Mofes,   [Exod.  iii.  4.]   *  I 

*  am  the  God  of  Abraham,  Haac,  and  Jacob,'  5:c. 

3.  The  perfon  thus  appearing  receives  divine  honours — '  Put 

*  the  flioes  from  off  thy  feet,'  faid  he  to  Mofes  and  Joftiua,  '  for 
'  the  place  whereon  thou  ftandeft  is  holy  ground.'  The  latter, 
we  are  exprefsly  told,  did  ivorJl.i'ip  the  captain  of  the  Lord's  hoft. 
[See  Dr.  AU'ix,  Judgment  of  the  Jewifli  Church,  p.  234.  and  Bp. 
Patrkh  on  Jofh.  v.  14,  15.]  Though  we  do  not  conceive,  (as  fome 
have  done)  that  Gideon's  prcfcnt  was  a  facrifice,  yet  the  reafon  of 
the  angel  refufmg  a  facrifice  from  Manoah  is  very  fingular,  and 
pertinent  to  our  point,  viz.  that  Manoah  knew  him  not.  [Judges 
xiii.  16.3 

4.  It  is  very  remarkable  that  God  has  fo  repeatedly  revealed 
himfelf  as  a  jealous  God,  and  declared  that  he  will  not  give  his  glory 
to  another.    [Exod.  xx.  5.     Ifa.  xlii.  8.]   It  therefore  follows, 

5.  That  this  could  not  be  a  created  angel. — In  the  angelic  ap- 
pearances in  the  Neiv  Teftament  we  find  no  fuch  language  ;  none 
of  the  names  of  God  are  applied  to  them,  nor  do  they  aflume  any 
of  his  prerogatives  ;  and  when  the  apoflle  John  offered  to  worfliip 
one  of  thefe,  though,  it  is  probable,  he  did  not  intend  fupreme 
adoration,  yet  the  angel  refufed  and  forbad  him.  [Rev.  xix.  lo.j 
Or  if  we  fuppofe  the  apoftle  meant  to  adore  him,  it  muft  be  on  a 
fuppofition,  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  which,  if  it  could  be 
proved,  would  very  much  ftrengthen  our  hypothefis. 

Nor,  6.  By  the  angel  of  the  Lord  mult  we  underftand  any  mere 
external  form  in  which  the  Deity  refided,  and  fpake  as  a  cloud  or 
flame,  &c.  becaufe  he  is  called  *  the  c'aptain  of  falvation,'  and 
generally  appeared  in  a  human  form. 

Neither,  7.  Muft  we  underftand  God  the  Father  himfelf,  for 
our  Lord  exprefsly  tells  the  Jews,  that  they  had  not  at  any  time 
either  '  heard  his  voice,  or  feen  hisfhape,'    [John  v.  37.]     And 

hecaufc 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  201 

erefting  a  fchool  of  the  prophets,  in  Samuel's  time.  There 
was  fomething  ot  this   fpirit  of  prophecy   in   Uracl  after 

Mofes, 

becaufe  the  fcilptiires  never  rcprefent  the  Father  in  any  delegated 
or  inferior  charafter. 

But,  8.  Thefe  reprefentations  perfectly  agree  with  the  account 
given  in  fcripture  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  is  called  the  '  angel 
'  of  the  covenant,'   [Mai.  iii.  i.  in  the  Hebrew,]   and  perhaps  the 

*  angel  of  God's  prefence.'  [Ifa.  Ixiii.  9.] 

9.  It  appears,  that  of  the  patriarchs  and  others  to  whom  this 
angel  appeared,  fome  knew  him  immediately  to  be  God  himfelf, 
and  in  general  all  were  convinced  of  it  after  he  was  departed;  hence 
many  of  them  faid,  *  We  fliall  die,  for  we  have  feen  God.' 

10.  This  was  the  univerfal  opinion  of  the  Chriilian  fathers,  as 
has  been  fhewn  at  large  by  Bp.  Bull,  Dr.  JVaterlaucI,  and  others  ;  a 
fmgle  palfage  therefore,  full  to  our  purpofe,  fhall  fuffice.  *'  It  was 
Chrill  who  defcended  into  communion  v.ith  men,  from  Adam  unto 
the  patriarchs  and  prophets  in  vifions,  dreams  and  appearances  or 
reprefentations  of  himfelf,  inilrucling  them  in  his  future  condition 
from  the  beginning:  and  God  who  converfed  with  men  on  earth, 
was  no  other  than  the  Word  who  was  to  be  made  flefli."  [Tkr- 
TULLiAN.   See  Owen  on  the  Heb.  vol.  i.  p.  121.3 

11.  Even  fome  of  the  moft  eminent  Jewifli  writers  have  made 
confeflions  to  this  purpofe.  So  Rab.  M.  N.  Gerundensis,  of  the 
13th  century;  "  This  angel,  if  we  fpcak  cxaftly,  is  the  angel  the 
redeemer,  concerning  whom  it  is  written,  *  My  name  is  in  him,' 
that  angel  who  faid  to  Jacob,  *  I  am  the  God  of  Bethel,'  &c. 
\_0'wen  on  the  Heb.  vol.  i.  p.  122.] 

12.  Moft  of  thefe  remarks,  as  they  go  to  prove  that  thefe  ap- 
pearances were  of  the  Son  of  God,  they  no  lefs  prove  tlie  divinity 
of  his  perfon  and  chara<^ler;  which  is  the  principal  i"eafon  of  our 
infifting  fo  largely  on  this  fubjeft. 

13.  We  are  not  however  from  any  of  thefe  propofitions  to  Infer, 
that  in  all  the  inftances  of  God's  fpeaking  under  the  Old  Teftament, 
the  Son  only,  as  diftinguiflied  from  the  Father,  was  intended:  this 
notion  would  involve  almoft  as  great  difficulties  as  the  oppoiite  one 
of  there  being  a  created  angel,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
remarkable  text,   [Exod.  xxiii.  20,  21.]    '  Behold,  I  fend  an  angel 

*  before  thee,  to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and  to  bring  thee  into  the 

*  place  which  I  have  prepared.    Beware  of  him,  and  obey  his  voice ; 

*  provoke  him  not;  for  he  will  not  pardon  your  tranfgrcffions:   for 

*  my  name  is  in  him.'  Thefe  are  evidently  the  wordr,  of  the  Father 
promifmg  that  the  angel  of  the  covenant  (hould  go  bciore  to  be  the 
guide  of  Ifrael;  in  which  we  cannot  but  obferve,  that  this  angel  has 
the  peculiar  attributes  and  prerogatives  of  Deity  afcribcd  to  him. 

14.  To  this  it  may  be  objecled,  [from  Exod.  xxxiii.  2 — 4.] 
That  when  God  promifed  to  fend  an  angel  before  them,  the  Lord 

D  d  2  thveatened 


20Z        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

]Mofes,  before  Samuel.  Jofhua  and  many  of  the  judges  had 
a  degree  of  it.  Deborah  was  a  prophetefs  :  and  fome  of 
tlie  high  priefls  were  infpired  with  this  fpirit ;  particularly 
Eli :  and  tliat  fpace  of  time  was  not  wholly  without  in- 
flances  of  thofe  that  were  fet  apart  of  God  efpecially  to  this 
office,  and  fo  were  called  prophets.  Such  an  one  we  read 
of,  [Judg.  vi.8.]  '  The  Lord  fent  a  prophet  unto  the  chil- 
'  dren  of  Ifrael,  which  faid  unto  them,'  &c.  Such  an  one 
he  feems  to  have  been  that  ^^'e  read  of,  [i  Sam.  ii.  27.] 
'  And  there  came  a  man  of  God  to  Eli,'  &c. 

But  there  was  no  fuch  order  of  men  upheld  in  Ifrael 
for  any  conftancy,  before  Samuel  ;  the  want  of  it  is  ta- 
ken notice  of,  [i  Sam.  iii.  i.]  '  And  the  word  of  the 
'  Lord  was  precious  in  thofe  days  ;  there  was  no  open 
J  vilion.'   (b)      But  in  Samaiel  there  was  begun  a  fuccef- 

fion 

threatened  that  he  would  not  go  up  himfelf,  on  which  occafion  the 
people  mourned  :  but  the  Jevvifli  dotlors  will  furnifli  us  with  an 
caiy  folutlon  of  this  difficuhy  ;  for  Aben  Ezra  obferves,  [fee 
GUI  in  loc]  that  this  was  not  the  angel  promifed  before,  [chap, 
xxiii.j  but  an  in'erior  one,  which  the  Lord  threatened  to  fend 
with  them  Inllead  of  the  former ;  though  afterwards  he  relented 
and  promifed  his  own  prefence,  which  feems  to  be  the  fame  as  in- 
tended in  Ifaiah  by  the  '  angtl  of  his  prefence.'  So  Rab.  Mena- 
CHEM  faith,  "  This  angel  is  not  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  of  whom 
he  fpake  in  the  time  of  favourable  acceptance,  '  My  prefence  fliall 
'  gc; :'  for  now  the  holy  bleifed  God  had  taken  away  his  divine 
prefence  from  among  them,  and  would  have  led  them  by  the  hand 
of  another  angel."   [-^i'-f-  in  Ex.  xxxii.  34.] 

15.  Upon  the  whole,  whenever  we  re.id  of  a  divine  appearance 
under  the  Old  Teftament,  in  which  a  human  or  angelic  form  was 
exhibited,  or  fome  delegated  and  inferior  charadtcr  iuilained,  and 
yet  combined  with  fom.e  circumftances  that  forbid  our  underftand- 
ing  it  of  a  mere  angel,  we  may  fafely  interpret  it  of  the  Son  of  God, 
who  thus  anticipated  his  future  humiliation,  and  '  whofe  delights 
f  from  the  beginning  were  with  the  fons  of  men.'  [G.  E.J 

(  B  )  The  ivord  of  the  Lord  was  precious  ///  ihof  days.]  "  That 
is,  a  word  from  the  Lord  in  a  dream  or  vifion  directing,  informing, 
inllrufting,  or  reproving,  this  was  very  rarely  had  ;  of  late  there 
had  been  but  very  fcv,'  inftances,  and  which  accounts  for  it,  why 
not  only  the  child  Sanuiel  knew  not  it  was  the  voice  of  the  Lord  that 
called  to  him,  but  £/:  himfelf  thought  nothing  of  it  until  he  l.ad 
calbd  a  third  time,  fo  rare  and  fcarce  was  any  iullance  of  this  kind; 

and 


FkOM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  203 

fion  of  prophets,  that  was  maintained  continnallv  from 
tliat  time,  at  leaft  with  very  little  interruption,  till  the 
fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed,  abo\it  IMalachi's  time  ;  and 
therefore  Samuel  is  fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teflamcnt  as 
the  beginning  of  the  fucceflion  of  prophets,   [A6ls  iii.  24.] 

•  And  all  the  prophets  from  Samuel,  and  thofe  that  follow 

*  after,  as  many  have  fpoken,  have  foretold  of  thefc  days/ 
After  Samuel  was  Nathan,  and  Gad,  and  Iddo,  and  He- 
man,  and  Afaph,  and  others.  And  in  the  latter  end  of 
Solomon's  reign,  we  read  of  Ahijah  ;  and  in  Jeroboam 
and  Rehoboam's  time  we  read  of  prophets  ;  and  fo  con- 
tinually one  prophet  fucceetling  another  till  the  captivity. 
We  read  of  prophets  as  being  a  conllant  order  of  men 
upheld  in  the  land  in  thofe  days:  and  in  the  time  of  the 
captivity  there  were  Ezekiel  and  Daniel  ;  and  after  the 
captivity  there  weie  Zechariah,  Haggai,  and  Malachi. 

And  becaufe  God  intended  a  conftant  fucceffion  of 
prophets  from  Samuel's  time,  therefore  now  was  begun  a 
fchool  of  the  prophets  ;  that  is,  a  fchool  of  young  men, 
that  were  trained  up  under  fome  great  prophet,  who 
was  their  mailer  and  teacher  in  the  fludy  of  divine  things, 
and  the  pradUce  of  liolinefs,  to  fit  them  for  this  office,  as 
God  fliould  call  them  to  it.  Thofe  yo\mg  men  that  be- 
longed to  thele  fchools,  were  called  the  fons  of  the  pro- 
phets ;  and  oftentimes  they  are  called  prophets.  Thefe 
at  firft  were  under  the  tuition  of  Samuel.    [Sam.  xix.  20.] 

'  And 

,  . .  and  as  every  thing  that  is  fcarce  and  rare,  is  generally  precious, 
fo  the  word  of  God  in  this  way  alfo  v.as ;  and  fo  it  is  confidcred  in 
every  view  of  it,  as  the  written  word  of  God :  when  there  was 
but  little  of  it  penned,  as  at  this  time,  and  few  or  none  to  teach 
and  inftrufl  in  it,  Eli  being  old  and  liis  fons  fo  vile  ;  or  when  it  is 
forbidden  to  be  read,  or  the  copies  of  it  dcRroyed  and  become 
fcarce,  as  it  was  in  the  times  of  Dioclefian  :  or  when  there  are  but 
very  few  faithful  evangelical  miniitcrs  of  the  word  ;  which  though 
it  is  always  precious  to  them  that  have  precious  faith  in  it,  the 
promifcs  of  it  being  exceeding  great  and  precious,  and  the  truths 
of  it  more  precious  than  fine  gold,  and  the  grand  fubjeft  of  it,  a 
precious  Saviour,  who  is  fo  in  his  perfon,  offices,  blood,  righteouf- 
ncfs  and  facrifice  :  yet  it  is  generally  more  precious  when  there  is 
a  fcarcity  of  it,  when  God  makes  a  man,  a  gofpel  minillcr,  m.cnre 
precious  than  fine  gold.   [See  Ifa.  xiii.  12.]      [Gill  in  loc.] 


304        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  And  when  they  faw  the  company  of  prophets  prophe- 
'  fying,  and  Sajnuel  {landing  as  appointed  over  them.' 
The  company  of  the  prophets  that  we  read  of  i  Sam.  x.  5. 
were  the  fame.  Afterwards  we  read  of  their  being  under 
Elijah.  Elifha  was  one  of  his  fons  ;  but  he  dehred  to 
have  a  double  portion  of  his  fpirit,  as  his  fucceflbr,  as 
his  firfl  born  :  as  the  cldell;  fon  was  wont  to  have  a  double 
portion  of  the  eftate  of  his  fluher  ;  and  therefore  the  other 
ions  of  the  prophets,  when  they  perceived  that  the  fpirit 
of  Elijah  refled  on  Eliflia,  fubmitted  themfelves  to  him, 
and  owned  him  for  their  mafter,  as  they  had  done  Elijah 
before;    [2  Kings  ii.    15.]   '   And   when   the  fons  of  the 

*  prophets  which  were  to  view  at  Jericho,  faw  him,  they 
'  faid,  the  fpirit  of  Elijah  doth  reft  on  Elilha.     And  they 

*  bowed  themfelves  to  the  ground  before  him.'  [See  alfo 
2  Kings  iv.  38.] 

In  Elijah's  and  Eliflia's  time,  there  were  feveral  places 
where  there  refuled  companies  of  thefe  fons  of  the  pro- 
phets ;  as  there  was  one  at  Bethel,  another  at  Jericho,  and 
another  at  Gilgal,  unlefs  tliat  at  Gilgal  and  Jericho  were 
the  fame  ;  and  poiTibly  that  wliicli  is  called  the  college, 
where  the  prophetels  Huldah  refided,  was  another  at  jeru- 
falem  ;  [fee  2  Kings  xxii.  14.]  It  is  there  faid  of  Huldah 
the  prophetefs,  that  '  fhe  dwelt  in  Jerufalem,  in  the  col- 

*  lep'c.'  (c)  They  had  houfes  built,  where  thev  ufed  to 
dwell  together  ;  and  therefore  thofe  at  Jericho  being  mul- 
tiplied, and  finding  their  houfe  too  little  for  them,  defired 
leave  of  their  mafter  Eli  (ha,  that  they  might  go  and  hew 
timber  to  build  a  larger.    [2  King  vi.  i,  2.] 

At  fome  times  there  were  numbers  of  thefe  fons  of  the 
prophets  in  Ifrael ;  for  when  Jezebel  cut  oft'  the  prophets 
of  the  Lord,  it  is  faid  that  Obadiaii  took  an  hundred  of 
them,  and  hid  them  by  fifty  in  a  cave,  [i  Kings  xviii.  4.] 

Thefe  fchoois  of  the  proplicts  being  fet  up  by  Samuel, 
and  afterwards   kept   up   by   fuch   propliets  as    Elijah  and 

Eliftia, 

(c)  Huldah  dnvelt  in  the  college.]  "  In  the  college  of  the 
prophets  ;  in  the  houfc  of  inftnidlon,  as 'the  Targum  ;  the  fchool 
where  the  yoiuig  prophets  were  inllrucfed  and  trained  up." — 
fGiLL  in  loc.] 


FROM  MOSES  TO  DAVID.  205 

EHlha,  mud  be  of  divine  appointment :  and  accordingly 
we  find,  tliat  thofe  fons  o(  the  prophets  were  often  fa- 
voured with  a  degree  of  infpiration,  while  they  continued 
under  tuition  in  the  fchools  of  the  prophets  ;  and  God 
commonly,  when  he  called  any  prophet  to  the  conftant 
exercife  of  the  prophetical  office,  and  to  fome  extraordi- 
nary fervice,  took  them  outof  thefe  Ichools  ;— though  not 
univerfally.  Hence  the  prophet  Amos,  fpeaking  of  his 
being  called  to  the  prophetical  office,  fays,  that  he  was 
one  that  had  }?ot  been  educated  in  the  fchools  of  the  pro- 
phets, and  was  not  one  of  the  fons  of  the  prophets.  [Amos 
vii.  15.]  But  Amos's  taking  notice  of  it  as  remark- 
able, that  he  Ihould  be  called  to  be  a  prophet  that  had 
not  been  educated  at  the  fchools  of  the  prophets,  flaows 
that  it  was  God's  ordinary  manner  to  take  his  prophets 
out  of  thefe  fchools ;  for  therein  he  did  but  blefs  his  own 
inftitution. 

Now  this  remarkable  difpenfation  of  Providence,  viz. 
God's  beginning  a  conftant  fucceffion  of  prophets  in  Sa- 
muel's time,  that  was  to  laft  for  many  ages  ;  and  to  thai 
end,  eftabliHiing  a  fchool  of  the  prophets  under  Samuel, 
thenceforward  to  be  continued  in  Ifrael,  was  in  order  to 
promote  that  great  affair  of  redemption  which  we  are 
upon.  For  the  main  bufmefs  of  this  fucceffion  of  pro- 
phets was  to  forefhow  Chrift,  and  the  glorious  redemption 
that  he  was  to  acconjplifh,  and  fo  prepare  the  way  for  hii 
coming.    [A6ts  iii.  18,  24.-— x.  43.] 

As  I  obfcrved  before,  [fee  p.  82.]  the  Old  Teftament 
time  was  like  a  time  of  night,  wherein  the  church  was 
not  wholly  without  light,  but  had  not  the  light  of  the 
fun  directly,  but  as  refle61:ed  from  the  ftars.  Now  thefe 
prophets  were  the  ftars  that  reflected  the  light  of  the  fun  ; 
and  accordingly  they  fpoke  abundantly  of  Jefus  Chrift,  as 
appears  by  what  we  have  of  their  prophecies  in  writing. 
And  they  made  it  very  much  their  bufmefs,  when  they 
ftudied  in  their  fchools  or  colleges,  and  elfc where,  to 
fearch  out  the  work  of  redemption ;  agreeable  to  what 
the  apoftle  Peter  fays  of  them,  [i  Pet.  i.  10,  ii-]  '  Of 
'  which  falvation  the  prophets  have   inquired,  and  fearch- 

'  ed 


2o6        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  ed  diligently,  who   prophefied  of  the   grace   that  fliould 

*  come   iinto   you  ;  fearching   what,  or  what   manner   of 

*  time  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  that  was  in  them  did  hgnify, 
'  when  it  teftitied  beforehand  the  fufFerings  of  Chrift,   and 

*  the  glory  that  fliould  follow.'  (d)  We  are  told  that 
the  church  of  the  Redeemer  is  '  built  on  the  foundation 

*  of  the  prophets  and  apoftles,  himfelf  being  the  chief  cor- 

*  ncr-ftone.'    [Eph.  ii.  20.] 

This  was  the  firft  thing  of  the  nature  tiiat  ever  was  done 
in  the  world  ;  and  it  was  a  great  thing  that  God  did  to- 
Avards  farther  advancing  this  great  building  of  redemption. 
There  liad  been  before  occafional  prophecies  of  Chrift,  as 
was  fhovvn  ;  but  now  the  time  drawing  nearer  when  the 
Redeemer  Ihould  come,  it  pieafed  God  to  appoint  a  certain 
order  of  men,  in  conftant  fuccefllon,  whofe  main  buhnefs 
it  ftiould  be,  to  foreflicw  Chrift  and  his  redemption,  and 
as  his  forerunners  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming  ;  and 
God  eftablilhed  fchools,  wherein  multitudes  were  inftru6l- 
ed  and  trained  up  to  that  end.   [Rev.  xix.  10.]    '  I  am  thy 

*  fellow  fervant,  and  of  thy  brethren  that  have  the  tefti- 
'  mony  of  Jefus  ;  for   the  teftimony  of  Jefus  is   the  fpirit 

*  of  prophecy.'  §  V. 

(d)  Of  ivh'ich fal'uation  the  prophets  have  inquired,  y^.]  This 
paflage  prefents  us  with  the  following  important  truths  : 

1.  That  the  fpirit  which  infplred  the  antient  prophets  was  the 
fpirit  of  Chrill  ;  an  irrefragable  argument  of  his  pre-exiilence  and 
divinity. 

2.  That  as  Chrift  was  the  author,  fo  was  he  the  grand  fubjeft 
of  their  prediftions  ;  the  alpha  and  omega  of  the  Bible,  *  The  tef- 

*  timony  of  Jefus  is  the  fpirit  of  prophecy',  or,  as  fome  invert  the 
words,  '  The  fpirit  of  prophecy  is  the  teftimony  of  Jefus ;'  [fo 
Doddridge  and  Bp.  Hurd.~\  '  To  him  give  all  the  prophets  witnefs,* 
[Ads  X.  43.]    '  both  as  to  his  fufFerings  and  the  glory  that  fliould 

*  follow.' 

3.  That  the  prophets  had  only  t  partial  acquaintance  with  the 
meaning  of  their  own  prediftions.  It  Avas  not  neceftary,  nor  in 
many  cafes  expedient,  that  they  fliould  ftdly  comprehend  them, 
efpecially  as  to  the  time  of  their  accomplifhment. 

4.  That  they  eftcemed  the  fubjeft  worthy  their  inquir)'  and  ar- 
dent ftudy  :  *  Prophets  and  Kings  defired'  to  fee  and  hear  the 
thin'-'s  revealed  to  us,  [Luke  x.  24.]  How  highly  then  fliould 
we  efteem — how  deeply  venerate — how  ineftlniably  prize  thefe 
difcoveries !   '  Blefled  are  our  eyes,  if  they  fee — and  our  ears,  if 

*  they  fuitably  attend  to  them.'  [J.  N.] 


[      207       ] 

§  V.    From  David  to  the  BahyloniJJi  captivity. 

I  COME  now  to  the  fifth  period  of  the  times  of  the 
Old  Teftament,  beginning  with  David,  and  extending  to 
the  Babylonifli  captivity  ;  and  would  now  proceed  to  fliow 
how  the  work  of  redemption  was  therein  carried  en.— 
And  here, 

The  firft  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of,  is  God's  anoint- 
int^  that  perfon  who  was  to  be  the  anceftor  of  Chrift,  to 
be  king  over  his  people.  The  difpenfations  of  Providence 
which  have  been  taken  notice  of  through  the  lafi:  period, 
from  Mofes  to  this  time,  refpeft  the  notion,  but  now  the 
fcripture-hiftory  leads  u:-  to  confider  God's  providence 
towards  that  particular  perfon  whence  Chrill:  was  to  pro- 
ceed, viz.  David.  It  pleated  God  at  this  time  remarkably 
to  feleft  out  this  perfon  from  all  the  thoufands  of  Ifrael, 
and  to  put  a  mofl  honourable  mark  of  diftinilion  upon 
him,  by  anointing  him  to  be  king  over  his  people.  It 
was  only  God  that  could  find  him  out.  His  father's 
houfc  is  Ipoken  of  as  being  little  in  Ifrael,  and  he  was  the 
voungefi:  of  all  the  fons  of  his  father,  and  was  leaft  ex- 
pedled  to  be  the  man  that  God  had  chofen,  by  Samuel,  (e) 
God  had  before,  in  the  former  ages  of  the  world,  remark- 
ably diftinguifhed  the  perfons  from  whom  Chrift  was  to 
come  ;  as  Seth,  Noah,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob.  The 
laft  inftance  of  this  was  in  Jacob's  blcffing  his  fon  Judah  ; 
unlefs  we  reckon  Nahflion's  advancement  in  the  wilder- 
nefs  to  be  the  head  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  [Numb.  i.  7.] 
But  this  dilfindion  in  the  perfon  of  David  was  very  ho- 

E  e  nourablc : 


( E )  David  /Z>f  kajl  likely  to  be  Gael's  chofen.'}  "  God feeih  not  *  as 
'  tnanfeeth.' — Samuel  was  fent  to  choofe  a  king  among  tbe  fons  of 
Jefle.  [i  Sam.  xvi.  6.]  When  he  faw  Eliab,  he  faid,  '  Surely  the 
'  Lord's  anointed  is  before  him  ;'  but  the  Lord  faid  to  Samuel, 
[ver.  7.]   '  Look  not  on  his  countenance,  nor  on  the  height  ot  his 

*  itature,  becaufc  I  have  refufed  him.*  Old  Jefle,  it  may  be,  was 
ready  to  look  on  his  eldell  fon  too,  being  pleal'ed  with  hi*  tall  and 
comely  figure,  and  to  fay  within  himfelf,  '  It  is  a  pity  that  Eliab 

*  was  not  made  a  king  !'  But  David  was  God's  beloved." — 
[Watts's  Sermons,  vol.  i.  for.  7.] 


2o8         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

nourable  :  for  it  was  God's  anointing  liini  to  be  king  over 
his  people.  And  thereby  -was  fomething  farther  denoted 
than  in  the  anointing  of  Saul.  God  anointed  Saul  to  be 
king  perfonally  ;  but  God  intended  fomething  farther  bv 
fending  Samuel  to  anoint  David,  viz.  to  ertablifli  the  crown 
of  Ifrael  in  him  and  in  his  family,  as  long  as  Ifrael  con- 
tinued to  be  a  kingdom  ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  what  was 
infinitely  more,  eftablifliing  the  crown  of  his  univerfal 
church,  his  fpiritual  Ifrael,  in  his  feed,  to  the  end  of  the 
v/orld,  and  throughout  eternity. 

This  was  a  great  difpenfation  of  God,  and  a  great  ftep 
taken  towards  a  farther  advancing  of  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion, according  as  the  time  grew  near  wherein  Chrift  was 
lb  come.  David,  as  he  was  the  anceftor  of  Chrift,  fo  he 
was  the  greateft  perfonal  type  of  Chrift  under  the  Old  Tef- 
tament.  The  types  of  Chrift  were  of  three  forts ;  inftituted, 
providential,  and  perfonal.  (f)  The  ordinance  of  facri- 
iicing  was  the  greateft  of  the  injlituted  types  ;  the  redemp- 
tion out  of  Egypt  was  the  greateft  of  the  providential ;  and 
David  the  greateft  of  the  perfonal  ones.  Hence  Chrilt  is 
often  called  David  in  the  prophecies  of  fcripture  ;  [Ezek. 
xxxiv.  23,  24.]  '  And  I  will  fet  up  one  fliepherd  over  them, 
*  and  he  fliall  feed  them,  even  my  fervant  David  ;  my 
'  fervant  David  a  prince  among  them  ;'  and  fo  in  many 
other  places :  and  he  is  very  often  fpokcn  of  as  the  feed  or 
fon  of  David. 

David  being  the  anceftor  and  great  type  of  Chrift,  his 
being  folcmnly  anointed  by  God  to  be  king  over  his  peo- 
ple, that  the  kingdom   of  his  church  might  be  continued 

in 

(f)  The  Tyve.%  of  Chrift  of  three  forts. ~\  So,  Dr.  Owen  diflin- 
guillies  types  into,  i.  Such  as  were  directly  appointed  for  that 
end,  (which  our  author  calls  inftituted)  as  the  facrifices  ;  2.  Such 
as  had  only  a  providential  ordination  to  that  end,  as  the  ftory  of 
Jacob  and  Efau  ;  and,  3.  Things  that  fell  out  of  old,  fo  as  to  il- 
luftrate  prefent  things  from  a  fimilitude  between  them,  as  the  alle- 
gory of  Hagar  and  Sarah.  Others  diltinguifli  them  into  nW  and 
perfonal ;  by  the  former,  intending  the  tobernacle,  temples,  and 
religious  inftitutlons  ;  and  under  the  latter,  including  what  our 
author  calls  providential  and  perfonal  types.  \_Mather  on  the  Types, 
p.  6i.~\ — Thefe  latter  we  have  noticed  as  they  occurred,  and  the 
former  will  be  confidered  in  a  proper  place.  [N.  V.] 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        209 

in  his  family  for  ever,  may  in  fotne  refpe6ls  be  looked  on 
as  an  anointing  of  Chrift  himfelf.  Chrift  was  as  it  were 
anointed  in  him  ;  and  therefore  Chrift's  anointing  and 
David's  anointing  are  fpoken  of  under  one  in  fcripture, 
[Pfal.  Ixxxix.   20.]     *   I  have  fomid   David   my  fcrvant ; 

*  with  my  holy  oil  have  I  anointed  him.'  And  David's 
throne  and  Chrift's  are  fpoken  of  as  one  :  [Luke  i.  32.] 
'  And  the  Lord  Ihall  give  him  the  throne  of  his  father 
'  David.'  [Acls  ii.  30.]  '  David— knowing  that  God 
'  had  fworn  with  an  oath  to  him,  that  of  the  fruit  of  his 
'  loins,  according  to  the  flelh,  he  would  raife  up  Chrift  to 
'  lit  on  his  throne.' 

Thus  God's  beginning  of  the  kingdom  of  his  church 
in  the  houfe  of  David,  was  a  new  eftablifliing  of  the 
kinf^dom  of  Chrift  ;  the  beginning  of  it  in  a  ftate  of  fuch 
vilibility  as  it  thenceforward  continued  in.  It  was  God's 
planting  the  root,  whence  that  branch  of  rightcoufnefs 
was  afterwards  to  fpring  up,  which  was  to  be  the  everlaft- 
ing  king  of  his  church  ;  and  therefore  this  everlafting 
king  is  called  the  branch  from  tlie  ftem  of  Jeffe.  [Tla.  xi. 
I.]  '  And  there  Ihall  come  forth  a  rod  out  of  the  ftem  of 
«  Jefie,  and  a  branch  ftiall  grow  out  of  his  roots.'  (g) 
[Jer.  xxiii.  5.]     '  Behold,  the  days  come,  faith  the  Lord, 

*  that  I  will  raife  up  unto  David  a  righteous  brancli,  and 

E  e  2  'a  king 

(g)  yl  rod  from  theficm  of  Jesse.]  In  the  preceding  chapter 
"•'  the  prophet  had  defcribed  the  Affyrian  army  under  the  image 
of  a  mio^hty  foreft  .  .  .  cut  down  to  the  ground,  by  the  ax  weilded 
by  the  hand  of  fome  powerful  and  iliullrious  agent :  in  oppofition 
to  this  image  he  reprefents  the  great  peifon,  who  makes  the  fubjedl 
of  this  chapter,  as  a  flender  twig,  fliooting  out  from  the  trunk  of 
an  old  tree,  cut  down,  lopped  to  the  very  root,  and  decayed;  which 
tender  plant,  fo  weak  in  appearance,  fhould  neverthelefs  become 

fruitful  and  profper We  have  here  a  remarkable  inllance 

of  that  method  fo  common  with  the  prophets,  and  particularly  with 
Ilaiah,  of  taking  occaiion  from  the  meution  of  fome  great  temporal 
deliverance,  to  launch  out  into  the  difplay  of  the  fpiritual  deliver- 
ance of  God's  people  by  the  Meffiah ;  for  that  this  prophecy  relates 
to  the  Meffiah,  we  have  the  exprefs  authority  of  St.  Paul,  Rom. 
XV.  12."  [Bp.  LowTH  in  Ifa.  xi.  \. — His  Lordfliip  adds  a  paflage 
from  KiMCHi,  who  alfo  applies  this  text  to  the  Meffiah,  as  other 
eminent  Rabbins  have  done,  as  may  be  feen  in  Poll  Syn.  Crit.  'v\ 
loci 


ZIP        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  a  king  fliall  reign  and  profper.'  [Chap,  xxxiii.  15.]  *  In 

*  thofe  days,  and  at  that  time,  I  will  caufe  the  branch  of 
- '  righteoufnefs  to  grow  up  unto  David,  and  he  (hall  exe- 

*  cute  judgment  and  righteoufnefs  in  the  land.'  So  Chrift, 
in  the  New  Teftament,  is  called  the  root  and  offspring  of 
David.   [Rev.  xxii.  16.] 

it  is  obfervable,  that  God  anointed  David  after  Saul  to 
reign  in  his  room.  He  took  away  the  crown  from  him, 
who  was  higher  in  flature  than  any  of  his  people,  and  was 
in  their  eyes  fittefl:  to  bear  rule,  to  give  it  to  David,  who 
was  low  of  flature,  and  in  comparifon,  of  defpicable  ap- 
pearance :  fo  God  was  pleafed  to  fhow  how  Chrift,  who 
appeared  without  form  or  comelinefs,  and  was  defpifed  and 
reje(fled  of  men,  fliould  take  the  kingdom  from  the  great 
ones  of  the  earth.  And  alfo  it  is  obfervable,  that  David 
was  the  youngeft  of  JefTe's  fons,  as  Jacob  the  younger  bro- 
ther fupplanted  Efau,  and  got  birthright  and  blcffing  from 
him  :  and  as  Pharez,  brother  of  Chrift's  anceftor,  fup- 
planted Zarah  in  his  birth  ;  and  as  Ifaac,  another  of  the 
anceflors  of  Chrifl,  call  out  his  elder  brother  lihmael : 
thus  was  that  frequent  faying  of  Chrift  fulfilled,  '  The  laft 
'  fhall  be  firft,  and  the  firft  laft.' 

2.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  is  God's  pre- 
ferving  David's  life,  by  a  feries  of  wonderful  providences 
till  Saul's  death.  I  have  above  taken  notice  of  the  won- 
derful prefervation  of  other  anceftors  of  Chrift  ;  as  Noah, 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob  ;  and  have  obfcrved  how,  in 
that  Chrift  the  great  Redeemer  was  to  proceed  from  them, 
that  in  their  prefervation,  the  work  of  redemption  itfelf 
may  be  looked  upon  as  preferved  from  being  defeated, 
and  the  whole  church,  which  is  redeemed  through  him, 
from  being  overthrown.  But  the  prefervation  of  David 
'^was  not  lefs  remarkable  than  that  of  any  others  already 
taken  notice  of.  Plow  often  was  there  but  a  ftep  between 
him  and  death  ?  The  firft  inftance  of  it  we  have  in  his 
encountering  a  lion  and  a  bear,  (ii)  wliich,  without  mi- 
raculous 


(h)    His  encountering  a  lion  and  a  bear.]      Or — "  a  lion  OR 
i  a  bear  j'  the  meaning  can  only  be,  that  at  different  times  they 

would 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.         tii 

raculous  afliftance,  could  at  o-.ice  have  rent  this  young 
ftripling  in  pieces,  as  eafily  as  they  could  the  Iamb  which 
he  delivered  from  them  :  fo  afterwards  the  root  and  ofF- 
fpring  of  David  was  preferved  from  the  roaring  lion  that 
foes  about  feeking  whom  he  may  devour  ;  who  was  con- 
quered, and  the  fouls  of  men  refcued  as  lambs  out  of  the 
mouth  of  this  lion.  Another  remarkable  deliverance  was 
from  that  mighty  giant  Goliath,  who  was  ftrong  enough 
to  have  given  his  flelh  to  the  bealls  of  the  field,  and  to 
the  fowls  of  the  air,  as  he  threatened  :  but  God  preferved 
David  and  gave  him  the  victory,  fo  that  he  cut  ofF  his 
head  with  his  own  fword.  Chiifi:  flew  the  fpiritual  Go- 
liath with  his  own  weapon,  the  crofs,  and  io  delivered 
his  people.  And  h6w  remarkably  did  God  preferve  him 
from  being  flain  by  Saul,  when  he  flrft  fought  his  life,  by 
giving  his  daughter  to  be  a  fnare  to  him,  that  the  hand 
of  the  Philiftines  might  be  upon  him :  and  afterwards, 
when  Saul  fpake  to  Jonathan,  and  to  all  his  fervants,  to 
kill  him  ;  alfo  in  inclining  Jonathan,  inftead  of  murder- 
ing, to  love  him  as  his  own  foul,  and  to  be  a  great  inftru- 
nient  of  his  prefcrvation,  even  at  the  hazard  of  his  own 
life,  though  one  would  have  thought  that  none  would  have 
been  more  wiUing  to  have  David  killed  than  Jonathan, 
feeing  that  he  was  competitor  with  him  for  the  crown. 
Again  the  Lord  wonderfully  preferved  him,  when  Saul 
threw  a  javelin  to  fmite  him  to  the  wall  ;  and  when  he 
fent  mefTcngers  to  his  houfe,  to  watch  for  and  to  kill  him, 
when  Michal,  Saul's  daughter,  let  him  down  through  a 
window  ;  likcwife  when  he  afterwards  fent  meiTengers  once 
and  again,  to  Naioth  in  Ramah,  to  take  him,  and  they 
were  remarkably  prevented  by  being  fcized  with  miracu- 
lous impreffions  of  the  fpirit  of  God  ;  and  even  when  Saui^ik 
being  refolute  in  the  affair,  went  himfelf,  he  aUo  wcR^^ 
among  the  prophets.  Again  after  this,  how  wonJcrfalh 
was  David's  life  preferved  at  Gath  among  the  Pliililliue-. 
when  he  went  to  Achilh,  the    king  of  Gath,  and    was 

there 

would  come  and  take  a  lamb,  a  lion  at  one  time,  and  a  boar  at 
another."     [Gill  in  f  Sam.  xvii.  34,] 


m 


ziz  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

there  in  the  hands  of  the  Phlliftlnes,  who  one  would  have 
thought,  would  have  difpatched  him  at  once,  he  having 
fo  much  provoked  them  by  his  exploits  againll:  them. 
How  wonderfully  did  God  deliver  them  at  Keilah,  when 
he  had  entered  into   a  fenced  town,  where   Saul  thought 

he  was   fure   of  him  I When  he  purfued  and  hunted 

him  in  the  mountains  ;  when  the  army  encompafied  him 

in  the    wilderneis    of  Maon  ! How    was    he  delivered 

in  the  cave  of  Engedi,  when  inftead  of  Saul's  killing 
David,  God  delivered  Saul  into  his  hands  in  the  cave,  and 
cut  off  his  fkirt,  and  might  aseafily  have  cut  off  his  head  , 
and  afterwards  alfo  in  the  wildcrnefs  of  Ziph  ;  and  again 
,a  fccond  time  in  the  land  of  the  Philiftines,  though  David 
had  conquered  them  at  Keilah,  fuice  he  was  laft  among 
them  !  which,  one  would  think,  would  have  been  fuf- 
iicient  warning  to  them  not  to  truft  him,  or  let  him  ef- 
cape  a  fecond  time  ;  but  yet  now,  God  wonderfully  turned 
their  hearts  to  him  to  befriend  and  protedt,  jnftead  of  de- 
flroyinghim. 

Thus  was  the  precious  feed  that  virtually  contained  the 
Redeemer,  and  all  the  bleffings  of  his  redemption,  won- 
derfully preferved,  when  hell  and  earth  were  confpired 
againft  it  to  deftroy  it.  How  often  does  David  himielf 
take  notice  of  this,  with  praife  and  admiraiion,  in  the  book 
of  Pfalms  r 

3  About  this  time,  the  written  word  of  God  was 
enlarged  by  Samuel.  I  have  before  obfervcd  that  the 
canon  of  fcripture  w'as  begun,  and  the  tirfl:  written  word 
of  God  was  given  to  the  church  about  Mofes's  time : 
and  many,  and  I  know  not  but  mod:  divines,  think  it  was 
added  to  by  Jofliua,  and  that  he  wrote  the  laft  cliapter 
Deuteronomy,  and    moll  of  the  book    oi   Jolliua.    (i) 

Others 


(i)  J  OSH  V. \  ivrok'  moj}  of  the  booh  of  ]Qi>HV  A."^  "  This  book 
bears  the  name  of  JoHuia,  either  bccaufe  it  is  concerning  hira,  his 
aftions  and  exploits  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  or  bccaufe  it  was  writ- 
ten by  him,  or  both  ;  though  fome  afcribe  it  to  Ezra,  and  others 
to  Ifaiah  :  but  it  mull:  have  been  written  before  the  times  of  Ahab, 
as  appears  from  i  Kings  xvi.  34.  and  even  before  the  times  of 
David,  as  is  clear  from  chap.  xv.  69.  compared  with  2  Sam.  v.  6. 

for 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        213 

Others  think  that  Jofhua,  Judges,  Ruth,  and  part  of  the 
fir/1:  book  of  Samuel,  were  written  by  Samuel.  However 
that  was,  this  we  have  good  evidence  of,  that  Samuel 
made  an  addition  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  ;  for  he  is 
manifeftly  mentioned  in  the  New  Teftament,  as  one  of 
the  prophets  whofe  writings  we  have  in  the  fcriptures, 
[A6ts  iii.  24.]  '  Yea  and  all  the  prophets  from  Samuel, 
*  and  tliofe  that  follow  after,  as  many  as  have  fpoken,  have 
'  likewife  foretold  of  thefe  days.'  By  that  expreffion, 
'  as  many  as  have  fpoken,'  cannot  be  meant,  as  many  as 
have  fpoken  by  word  of  mouth  ;  for  every  prophet  did 
that :  but  the  meaning  muft  be,  as  many  as  have  fpoken 
by  writing,  fo  that  what  they  have  fpoken  has  come  down 
to  us. 

And  the  way  that  Samuel  fpoke  of  thefe  times  of  Chrift 
and  the  gofpel,  was  by  giving  the  hiftcry  of  the  things 
that  typified  and  pointed  to  them,  particularly  thofe  con- 
cerning David.  The  Spirit  of  God  moved  him  to  commit 
thofe  things  to  writing,  chiefly  for  that  reafon,  and,  as  was 
faid  before,  this  was  the  main  bufniefs  of  all  that  fucceflloi> 
of  prophets,  that  began  in  Samuel. 

That 

for  though  mention  is  made  in  it  of  the  mountains  of  Judah  and  of 
Ifrael,  from  whence  fome  have  concluded,  that  the  writer  nuifl 
have  lived  after  the  times  of  Rehoboam,  in  whofc  days  the  king- 
dom was  divided  ;  yet  we  find  the  dHUnAion  of  Ifrael  and  Judah 
took  place  before,  even  in  the  times  of  David  and  Afaph,  [Pfalm 
Ixxvi.  i.j  It  is  moll  likely  that  this  book  was  written  by  Jolhua 
himfelf,  as  the  Jews  in  their  Talmud  afiert  ;  and,  indeed,  who 
more  fit  for  it  than  himfelf?  And  if  written  or  put  together  by 
another,  it  is  moll  probable  that  it  was  taken  out  of  his  "diary,  an- 
nals, or  memoirs  :  and  though  there  are  fome  things  recorded  in  - 
it  which  were  done  after  his  deatli,  thefe  might  be  inferted  un- 
der a  divine  direftion  and  influence  by  Eleazar,  or  Phinehas,  oir 
Samutl  ....  jull  as  JoOuia  is  fuppofed  to  add  fome  verfes  con- 
cerning Moles  at  the  end  of  the  Pentateuch  ;  however,  be  it  wrote 
by  whom  it  may,  there  is  no  doubt  to  be  made  of  the  divine  Infpi- 
ration  and  authenticity  of  it  by  us  Cliriftians,  fince  fome  hillories 
recorded  in  it  are  taken  from  it,  or  referred  to  in  Hcb.  xi.  30,  31. 
and  the  promifc  made  to  Jofliua  is  quoted,  and  applied  to  every 
believer,  chap.  xiii.  5.  and  the  apolile  James  refers  to  thecaufe  of 
Rahah,  her  charafter  and  conduft  in  it."  [Jam.  ii.  25.] — [Gill's 
Comment.] 


214        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

That  Samuel  added  to  the  csnon  of  the  fcriptures  feems 
farther  to  appear  from  i  Chron.  xxix.  29.  '  Now  the  afts 
'  of  David  the  king,  firft  and  lafl,  behold,  they  are  writ- 
'  ten  in  the  book  of  Samuel  the  feer.' 

Whether  the  book  of  Jofhua  was  written  by  Samuel 
or  not,  yet  it  is  the  general  opinion  of  divines,  that  the 
books  of  Judges,  and  Ruth,  and  part  of  the  hrft  book  of 
Samuel,  were  penned  by  him.  (k)  The  book  of  Ruth 
was  penned  for  that  reafon,  becaufe  though  it  feemed  to 

treat 

(k)  Samuel  tvrote  the  bools  of  Jvtjges,  Ruth,  and  part  of 
I  Samuel.]  The  book  of  Judges — "  This  book  is  called  Judges, 
becaufe  it  treats  principally  of  the  great  things  done  by  thofe  il- 
lultrious  perfons  Vi^ho  were  raifed  up  by  God,  upon  fpecial  occa- 
fions,  after  the  death  of  Jofliua  till  the  time  of  making  a  King,  to 
judge,  that  is,  to  rule  the  people  of  Ifrael,  and  to  deliver  them 
from  their  oppreffions. 

"  It  is  but  conjedlured  who  was  the  writer  of  It ;  fome  think 
Ezra  ;  but  it  is  more  probable  the  prophet  Samuel,  who  was  the 
lail  of  the  judges,  and  by  the  direction  of  God  brought  down  their 
hiftory  unto  his  own  days  ;  when  they  defired  a  king  to  be  fet 
over  them.  The  Talmudifts  (in  Bava  Bathra,  cap.  i.)  are  X>£ 
this  opinion  ;  which  Kimchi,  Abarbinel,  and  other  great  authors 
follow.  And  indeed  there  is  reafon  to  think,  that  he  who  wrote 
the  concluiion  of  the  book  of  Jofhua,  waj  the  writer  of  this  book 
alfo  ;  in  the  fecond  chapter  of  which  he  inferts  part  of  that  which 
is  written  there.  Certain  it  is,  it  was  written  before  David's 
reign  ;  for  the  Jebufites  were  poffefled  of  Jerufalem,  when  this 
author  lived,  [ver.  21.  of  this  firit  chapter]  who  were  driven  out 
of  it  by  David,  [2  Sam.  v.  6.]  and  therefore  this  book  was  written 
before."     [Bp.  Patrick's  Comment.] 

The  book  of  Ruth — "  This  book  is  a  kind  of  appendix  to  the 
book  of  Judges,  and  a  manuduftion  to  the  book  of  Samuel ;  and 
there  fitly  placed  between  them.     It  has  its  title  from  the  perfon 
>  whofe  itory  is  here  piincipaliy  related,  which  indeed  is  wonderful. 

"  It  is  very  probable,  the,  fame  perfon  who  wrote  the  book  of 
Judges,  was  the  author  of  this  alfo,  viz.  Samuel ;  who,  by  add- 
ing this  to  the  end  of  that  book,  brought  down  the  hillory  unto 
his  own  times  ;  and  gave  us  withal  the  genealogy  of  David  from 
Pharcz,  the  Ion  of  Judah,  that  it  might  evidently  appear,  Chriil 
fprang  out  of  that  tribe,  according  to  Jacob's  prophecy,  [Gen. 
xlix.  10.]  but  by  a  Gentile  woman  (tliat  all  nations  might  hope 
in  his  mercy)  full  of  faith,  and  of  earneit  defire  to  enter  into  that 
family;  which  made  her  defpife  the  pride  of  her  own  nation,  and 
chufe  to  live  defpicabiv  among  the  people  of  Gt'd."  [Ibid.] 

Tbc 


FROM  DAVID  to  THE  CAPTIVITY.        215 

treat  of  private  affairs,  yet  the  perfons  chiefly  fpokcn  of 
In  it  were  of  the  family  whence  Davitl  and  Chrift  pro- 
ceeded, and  fo  pointed  to  what  the  apoftle  Peter  obferved 
of  Samftel  and  the  other  prophets,  in  the  iiid  chapter  of 
A£ts.  Thefe  additions  to  the  canon  of  fcripture,  the 
great  and  main  inftrument  of  the  application  of  redemp- 
tion, are  to  be  confidered  as  a  farther  continuation  of  that 
work,  and  an  addition  made  to  that  great  building. 

4.  Another  thing  God  did  towards  this  work,  at  that 
time,  was  his  infpiring  David  to  fhovv  fofth  Chrifl:  and  his 
redemption,  in  divine  fongs ;  which  ihould  be  for  the  ufe 
of  the  church,  in  public  worlhip,  throughout  all  ages.  Da- 
vid was  himfelf  endued  with  the  fpirit  of  prophecy.  [Acfls 
ii.  26,  30.]    '  Let  me  freely  fpeak  to  you  of  the  patriarcli 

*  David,  that  he  is  both  dead  and  buried,  and  his  fepulchre 

*  is  with  us  unto  this  day:  therefore  being  2. prophet,  and 

*  knowing  that  God  had  fworn  with  an  oath,'  &c.  So 
that  herein  he  was  a  type  of  Chrift,  that  he  was  both  a  pro- 
phet and  a  king.  The  oil  tliat  was  ufed  in  anointing  Da- 
vid was  a  type  of  the  Spirit  of  God;  and  the  type  and  the 
antitype  were  given  together;  [i  Sam.  xvi.  13.]  '  Then 
'  Samuel  took  the  horn  of  oil,  and  anointed  him  in  the 
'  midft  of  his  brethren  ;  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came 
'   upon  David  from  that  day  forward,' 

One  way  that  this  Spirit  influenced  him  was,  by  infpir- 
ihg  him  to  fhow  forth  Chrift,  and  the  glorious  things  ot 
his  redemption  in  divine  fongs,  fweetly  exprelFing  the 
breathings  of  a  piou?  foul,  full  of  admiration  of  the  glori- 
ous things  of  the  Redeemer,  inflamed  with  divine  love, 
and  elevated  with  praife  ;  and  therefore  he  is  called  the 
fvveet  pfalmiji  o{  Ifrael.     [2  Sam.  xxiii.  i.]      '  Now  thefe 

*  be  the  laft  words  of  David  ;   David  the  ion  of  JeiTe  laid, 

Ff  '  and 


The  FiasT  book  of  Samuel — "  This  book  .  .  .  has  the  name 
of  Samuel,  becaufe  it  contains  the  hiflory  of  his  life  and  times ; 
and  therefore  the  Jews  fay  it  was  written  by  him  ;  and  as  it  maj 
well  enough  be  thought  to  be  to  the  end  of  the  xxivth  chapter ; 
and  the  rell  might  be  written  by  Nathan  and  Gad,  [i  Chron.  xxix. 
29.]  as  alfo  the  following  book  that  bears  his  name."  [Gill'j 
Comment.] 


2i6        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  and  the  man  who  was  raifcd  up  on  high,  the  anointed  oi 
'  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  the  fweet  pfalmift  of  Ifrael.'  The 
main  fubje6ls  of  thefe  fweet  fongs  were  the  glorious  things 
of  the  gofpel ;  as  is  evident  by  the  interpretation  given  and 
the  ufe  made  of  them  in  the  New  Teftament :  for  there  is 
no  one  book  of  the  Old  Teftament  that  is  fo  often  quoted 
in  the  New,  as  the  book  of  Pfalms.  (l)  Joyfully  did  this 
holy  m.an  fmg  of  thofc  great  things  of  Chrift's  redemption, 
that  had  been  the  hope  and  expeftation  of  God's  church 
and  people  from  the  beginning,  and  as  joyfully  did  others 
follow  him  in  it,  viz.  Afaph,  Heman,  Ethan,  and  others ; 
for  the  book  of  Pfalms  was  not  all  penned  by  David, 
though  the  greater  part  of  it  was.  Hereby  the  canon  of 
fcripture  was  farther  increafed,  and  an  excellent  portion  of 
divine  writ  added  to  it 

This  was  a  great  advancement  that  God  made  in  this 
building  ;  and  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  had  been 
gradually  brightening  ever  fmce  the  tall,  was  now  exceed- 
ingly increafed  by  it ;  for  whereas  before  there  was  but 
here  and  there  a  propliecy  given  of  Chrift  in  feveral  ages, 
now  David,  in  a  variety  of  fongs,  fpeaks  of  his  incar- 
nation, life,  death,  relurre61ion,  afcenfion  into  heaven, 
fatisfadlion,  and  intercefiion  :  his  prophetical,  kingly, 
and  prieftly  office  ;  his  glorious  benefits  in  this  life  and 
that  which  is  to  come  ;  his  union  with  the  church,  and 
the  bleffedncfs  of  the  church  in  him  ;  the  calling  of  the 
Gentiles,  tlie  future  glory  of  the  church  near  the  end  of 
the  world,  and  Chrift  coming  to  the  final  judgment. 
All  thefe  things,  and  many  more,  concerning  Chrift  and 
his  redemption,  are  abundantly  fpoken  of  in  the  book  of 
Pfahns. 

This  was  alfo  a  glorious  advancement  of  the  affair  of 
redemption,  as  God  hereby  gave  his  church  a  book  of 
divine  fongs  for  their  ufe  in  that  part  of  their  public  wor- 
(hip,  viz.  llnging  his  praifes,  throughout   all  ages  to  the 

end 


(l)  The  Psalms  often  quoted  hi  the  New  Tfjlament.']  About 
eighty  times  in  the  whole,  and  the  greater  part  of  thofe  quota- 
tions is  applied  to  Chrifl  and  the  thinp-s  of  the  gofpel.  [J-N.] 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        217 

end  of  the  world.  It  is  manifeft  the  book  of  Pfalms 
was  given  of  God  for  this  end.  It  was  \ifed  in  the  church. 
of  Ifrael  by  God's  appointment  ;  as  appears  by  the  title  ol 
many  of  them,  in  which   they  are  infcribed  '  to  the  chief 

*  mufician,*  i.  e,  to  the  man  that  was  appointed  to  be  the 
leader  of  divine  fongs  in  the  temple,  in  the  public  worfhip 
of  Ifrael.  So  David  is  called  the  fvveet  pfalmift  of  Ifrael, 
becaufe  he  penned  pfalms  for  the  ufe  of  the  church  of 
Ifrael ;  and  accordingly  we  have  an  account  that  they 
were  fung  in  the  church  for  that  end  ages  after  David  was 
dead;    [2  Chron.  xxix.  30.]     '   Moreover   Hezekiah  the 

*  king,  and  the  princes,  commanded  the   Levites  to  fing 

<  praifes  unto  the  Lord,  with  the  words  of  David,  and  of 

*  Afaph  the  feer.'  And  v/e  find  that  the  fame  were  ap- 
pointed in  the  New  Teftament  to  be  made  ufe  of  in  the 
Chriflian   church,    in    their   worHiip :     [Ephef.  v.    19.] 

*  Speaking  to  yourfelves  in  pfalms^  hymns,  and  fpiritual 

*  fongs.'    [Col.  iii.    16.]     '  Admoniihing  one  another  in 

<  pfalms^  hymns,  and  fpiritual  fongs.'  And  lo  they  have 
been,  and  will,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  be  ufed  in  the 
churcli  to  celebrate  the  praifes  of  God.  The  people  of 
God  before  this  were  wont  to  worfliip  him  by  hnging 
fongs  to  his  praife,  as  they  did  at  the  Red  Sea  ;  and 
they  had  Mofes's  fong  [Deuteronomy  xxxii.]  committed 
to  them  for  that  end ;  and  Deborah,  and  Barak,  and 
Hannah  fung  praifes  to  God :  but  now  firi't  did  God  com- 
mit to  his  church  a  hook  of  divine  fongs  for  their  con- 
ftant  ufe. 

5.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's 
a6lually  exalting  David  to  the  throne  of  Ifrael,  notwith- 
Aanding  all  the  oppofition  made  to  it.  God  was  de- 
termined to  do  it,  and  he  made  every  thing  give  place 
that  flood  in  the  way  of  it.  He  removed  Saul  and  his 
fons  out  of  the  way  ;  and  firfl:  fet  David  over  the  tribe 
of  Judah ;  and  then,  having  removed  lihbodieth,  fet 
him  over  all  Ifrael.  Thus  did  God  fulfil  his  word  to 
David.  He  took  him  from  the  Iheep-cote,  and  made  him 
king  over  his  people  Ifrael.  [Pfalm  Ixxviii.  70,  71.] 
And  now  the  throne  of  Ifrael  was  eflabliflrcd  in  that  fa- 
F  f  2  milv 


2i8        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

jnily  in  which  he  was  to  continue  for  ever,  even  for  ewer 
and  ever. 

6.  Now  God  firft  chofe  a  particular  city  of  all  the 
tribes  of  Ifrael  to  place  his  name  in  it..  There  is  feveral 
times  mention  made  in  the  law  of  Mofes,  of  the  children 
of  Jfrael's  bringing  their  oblations  to  the  place  which  God 
ilionld  chvfe ;  [as  in  Deut.  xii.  5—7.  and  other  places  ;] 
but  God  had  never  proceeded  to  do  it  till  now.  The  ta- 
bernacle and  ark  were  never  fixed,  but  removed  fometimes 
to  one  place  and  fometimes  to  another.  The  city  of  Je- 
rufalem  was  never  thoroughly  conquered,  or  taken  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  Jebufites,  till  David's  time.  It  is  faid 
in  Jofhua,  [xv.  63.]  '  As  for  the  Jebufites,  the  inhabitants 
f  of  Jerufalem,  the  children  of  Judah  could  not  drive 
f  them  out :  but  tlie  Jebufites  dwell  with  the  children  of 
'  Judah  at  Jerufalem  unto  this  day.'  But  now  David 
wholly  fubdued  it,  [2  Sam.  v.]  and  God  chofe  that  city  to 
place  his  name  there,  as  appears  by  David's  bringing  up 
the  ark  thither  foon  after;  and  therefore  this  is  mentioned 
afterwards,  as  the  firft  time  God  chofe  a  city  to  place  his 
name  therein.  [2  Chron.  vi,  ^,  6.  and  chap.  xii.  13. 1 
Afterwards  God  Hiowed  David  the  verv  place  where  he 
would  have  his  temple  built,  viz.  in  the  threfliing-flqor  of 
Araunah  the  Jebufite. 

The  city  of  Jerufalem  h  therefore  called  tlie  /loly  city ; 
and  it  was  the  grenteft  type  of  the^ church  of  Chrift  in  all 
the  Old  Teftament.  It  was  redeem.ed  by  David,  the  cap- 
tain of  the  hofis  oi'  Ifiael,  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Jebu- 
fites, to  be  God's  city,  the  holy  place  of  his  reft  for  ever, 
where  he  would  dwell ;  as  Chrift,  the  captain  of  his  peo- 
ple's falvation,  redeems  his  church  out  of  tlie  hands  of 
devils,  to  be  his  holy  and  beloved  city.  And  therefore 
how  often  does  the  fcripture,  when  fpeaking  of  Chrift's 
redemption  of  his  church,  call  it  by  the  names  of  Zion 
and  Jerufalem  ?  This  was  the  city  that  God  had  ap- 
pointed to  be  the  place  of  the  firft  gathering  of  converts 
after  Chrift's  refurre6lion,  of  that-  remarkable  eiTiifion  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  on  the  apoftles  and  primitive  Chriftians, 
and  the  place  whence  the  gofpel  was  to  found  forth  into 
all  the  world;    the   place  of  the  firft  Chriftian    church, 

that 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        219 

that  was  to  be,  as  it  were,  the  mother  of  all  other  churches 
through  the  world;  agreeable  to  that  prophecy,  [If.  ii. 
3,4.]  '  Out  of  Zion  /liall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word 

*  of  the  Lord  from  Jerufalem  ;  and  he  Ihall  judge  among 
'  the  nations,  and  fliall  rebuke  many  people,'  &c. 

Thus  God  chofe  Mount  Sion,  whence  the  gofpel  >vas 
to  be  publifhed,  as  the  law  had  been  from  Mount  Sinai. 

y.  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved  here,  is  God's  folemnly 
renewing  the  covenant  of  grace  with  David,  and  proniif- 
ing  that  the  Mcffialj  fhould  be  of  his  feed.  We  have  an 
account  of  it  in  the  viith  chapter  of  the  fecond  book  of 
Samuel.  It  was  on  occafion  of  the  thoughts  David  enter- 
tained of  building  God  an  houfe,  that  God  fent  Nathan  the 
prophet  to  him,  with  the  glorious  promifes  of  the  covenant 
of  grace.  It  is  efpecially  contained  in  thefe  words,  [ver. 
16.]  '  And  thy  houfe  and  thy  kingdom  (liall  be  eftabliHied 
'  for  ever  before  thee  ;  thy  throne  /hall  be  eflabliilied  foi 
'  ever.'  Which  promife  has  refpeiSl  to  Chrifl^,  the  feed 
of  David,  and  is  fulfilled  in  him  only  ;  for  the  kingdom  of 
David  has  long  fmce  cenfed,  any  otherwife  than  as  it  is 
upheld  in  Chrift.  The  temporal  kingdom  of  the  houfe  of 
David  has  now  ccafed  for  a  great  many  ages  ;  even  more 
than  ever  it  flood. 

That  this  covenant  that  God  now  eflabliflied  with  David 
by  Nathan  the  prophet,  was  the  covenant  of  grace,  is  evi- 
dent by  the  plain  teftimony  of  fcripture,  in  Ifa.  Iv.  i — 3. 
There  we  have  Chrift  inviting  fmners  to  come  to  the  wa- 
ters, &c.     And  in  tlie  third  verfe,  he  fays,   '   Incline  your 

*  ear,  come  unto  me  ;  hear,  and  yonr  fouls  ihall  live  ;  and 

*  I  will  make  with  you  an  everlafting  covenant,  even  the 

*  fure  mercies  of  David.'  Here  Chrift  offers  to  convinced 
fmners,  an  interefl:  in  the  fame  everlafting  covenant  that 
he  made  with  David,  conveying  to  them  the  fame  furc 
mercies.  But  what  is  that  covenant  that  fmners  obtain  an 
intereft  in,  when  they  come  to  ChriH;,  but  the  covenant 
of  grace  ? 

This  was  the  fifth  folemn  ratification  of  the  covenant 
of  grace  with  the  church  after  the  fall.  The  firll:  was 
with  Adam  ;  the  fecond  with  Noah  ;  the  third  v/ith  the 
patriarchs,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob  ;  the  fourth -was  in 

the 


220        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

the  wildernefs  by  Mofes,  and  now  the  fifth  is  this  made  to 
David. 

This  eftabliihment  of  the  covenant  of  grace  with  Da- 
vid, he  always  efteemed  the  greateft  favour  of  God  to 
him,  the  greatefl:  honour  that  God  had  conferred  upon 
him  ;  he  prized  and  rejoiced  in  it  above  all  the  other 
bleffings  of  his  reign.  You  may  fee  how  joyfully  and 
thankfully  he  received  it,  when  Nathan  came  to  him  with 
the  glorious  mefTage,  in  2  Sam.  vii.  18,  &c.  And  fo 
David,  in  his  laft  words,  declares  this  to  be  all  his  falva- 
tion,  and   all   his   defire ;   [2    Sam.   xxiii.   5.]  '   He  hath 

*  made  with  me   an  everlafting  covenant,  ordered    in   all 

*  things  and  fure  :  for  this  is  all  my  ialvation,  and  all  my 

*  defirc.'   (m) 

8.  It  was  by  David  that  God  firft  gave  his  people  Ifrael 
the  poireflion  of  the  whole  promifed  land.  I  have  before 
fhown,  how  God's  giving  the  poffeflion  of  the  promifed 
land  belonged  to  the  covenant  of  grace.  This  was  done  in 
a  great  meafure  by  Jofliua,  but  not  fully.  Jofhua  did 
not  wholly  fubdue  that  part  of  the  promifed  land  that 
was  ftri61:ly  called  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  that  was  di- 
vided by  lot  to  the  leveral  tribes  ;  but  there  were  great 
numbers  of  the  old  inhabitants  left  unfubdued,  as  we  read 
in  the  books  of  Jofliua  and  Judges  ;  and  there  were  many 
left  to  prove  Ilrael,  and  to  be  '  thorns  in  their'  fides,  and 

*  pricks  in  their  eyes.'     There  were  the  Jebufites  in  Jeru- 
falem,  and  many  of  the  Canaanites,  and  the  whole  nation 

of 

(m)  David pn-zed  the  cavT.tixm.']  The  leading  trait  in  Da- 
vid's character  feems  to  have  been  pietyy  which  we  apprehend  to 
be  the  exaft  import  of  that  exprciTion,  [1  Sam.  xiii.  14.]  *  A 
'  man  after  God's  own  heart,'  /.  e.  a  man  eminently  devoted  to 
God,  and  full  of  zeal  for  his  glory.  And  it  is  obfervable,  that 
notwithftandinr  his  many  and  great  fins  (and  far  be  it  from  us,  to 
diflfemble  that  many  and  great  thcv  were)  lie  never  appears  to  have 
countenanced  idolatry,  the  befetting  fin  of  Ifrael,  The  book  of 
Pfalms,  which  were  written  at  many  different  times,  and  in  a  great 
variety  of  circumftanccs,  evinces  a  mind  coliverfant  with  the  divine 
attributes,  and  much  engaged  in  contemplation  on  the  blcflings  of 
the  covenant  of  redemption,  and  the  glories  of  the  MtHiah,  of 
whom  he  was  both  a  type  and  anceftor.  [N.  U.] 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        231 

of  the  Philiftiues,  who  all  dwelt  In  that  part  of  the  land 
that  was  divided  hy  lot,  and  chiefly  in  that  which  belonged 
to  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Ephraim. 

And  thus  thefe  remains  of  the  old  inhabitants  of  Canaan 
continued  till  David's  time  ;  but  he  wholly  fubducd  them. 
This  is  agreeable  to  what  St.  Stephen  obferves,  [Adls  vii. 
4^-]  '  Which  alfo  our  fathers  brought  in  with  Jefus  (/.  e. 
'  Jofliua)   into  the  poffeflion  of  the  Gentiles,  whom  God 

*  drove  out  before   the  face   of  our   fathers,  unto  the   days 

*  of  David.'  Tliey  were  till  the  days  of  David  in  driving 
them  out ;  but  David  entirely  brought  them  under.  He 
fubdued  the  Jcbuiitcs,  the  whole  nation  of  the  Philiflines, 
and  all  the  remains  of  the  feven  nations  of  Canaan  ; 
[i   Chron.  xviii.   i.]    '   Now  after  this  it  came  to  pafs, 

*  that  David    fmote   the  Philiftincs,    and   fubdued   them, 

*  and  took  Gath  and  her  tov/ns  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
'  Philiftines.' 

After  this,  ail  the  remains  of  the  former  inhabitants  of 
Canaan  were  made  bond-fervants  to  the  Ifraelites.  Before 
this  the  pofterity  of  the  Gibeonites  were  hewers  of  vi'ood, 
and  drawers  of  water,  for  the  houfe  of  God.  But  Solo- 
mon, David's  fon  and  fucceffor,  put  all  the  remains  of  the 
other  feven  nations  of  Canaan  to  bond-fervice,  or  at  leaft 
made  them  pay  a  tribute  of  bond-fervice.  [i  Kings  ix. 
20—22.]  And  hence  we  read  of  the  children  cf  Solomon's 
fervants,  after  the  return  from  the  Babylonifh  captivity, 
[Ezra  ii.  55.  and  Neh.  xi.  3.]  They  were  the  children 
or  porterity  of  the  feven  nations  of  Canaan,  that  Solomon 
had  fubjeiSed  to  bond-fervice. 

Thus  David  fubdued  the  whole  land  of  Canaan,  (Iridl- 
ly  fo  called.  But  then  that  was  not  one  half,  nor  quar- 
ter, of  what  God  had  promifed  to  their  fathers.  The 
land  promifed  to  their  fathers  included  all  the  countries* 
from  the  river  of  Egypt  to  the  river  Euphrates.  Thefe 
were  the  bounds  of  the  land  promifed  to  Abraham,  [Gen. 
XV.  i8.]  *  In  that  fame  day  the  Lord  made  a  covenant 

*  with   Abram,  faying,  Unto  thy  feed  have   I  given  this 

*  land,  from  the  river  of  Egypt,  unto  the  great  river,  the 

*  river  Euphrates.'      So  again  God  promifed  at  Mount  Si- 

nai, 


22i      History  of  redemption. 

nai,   [Exod.  xxiii.  31.]  '  And  I  will  fet  thy  bounds  from 

*  the  Red  Sea  even  unto  the  fea  of  the   Philiftines,  and 

*  from  the  defert  unto  the  river:  for  I  will  deliver  the  in- 

*  habitants  of  the  land   into  your  hand  ;  and  thou   fhalt 

*  drive  them  out  before  thee.'     So  again,   [Deut.  xi.  24.] 

*  Every  place  whereon  the  foles  of  your  feet  {hall  tread, 

*  fhall  be  yours :  from  the  wildernefs  and  Lebanon,  from 

*  the  river,  the  river  Euphrates,  even  unto  the  uttermoft 
'  fea,  fhall  your  coaft  be.'  Again,  the  fame  promife  is 
made  to  Jofhua  :  [Jofh.  i.  3,4-]  '  Every  place  that  the 
'   fole  of  your  feet  ihall   tread  upon,  have   I   given  unto 

*  vou,  as  I  faid  unto  Mofes  ;   from  the  wildernefs  and  this 

*  Lebanon,  even  unto  the  great  river,  the  river   Euphra- 

*  tes,  all  the  land  of  the  Hittites,  and  unto  the  great  fea, 
'  towards  the  going  down  of  the  fun,  fliall  be  your  coaft.' 
But  what  Jofhua  gave  the  people  the  pofleflion  of,  was 
but  a  fmall  part  of  this  land.  And  the  people  never 
had  had  the  poffeffion  of  it,  till  God  gave  it  them  by 
David. 

This  lar^c  country  not  only  included  that  Canaan  which 
was  divided  by  lot  to  thofe  who  came  in  with  Jofhua,  but 
the  land  of  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites,  tlie  land  of  the 
Amalekites,  and  the  reft  of  the  Edomites,  and  the  country 
of  Zobah.  All  thefe  nations  were  fubdued  and  brought 
under  the  children  of  Ifrael  by  David.  And  he  put  gar- 
rifons  into  the  feveral  countries,  and  they  became  David's 
fervants,  as  we  have  a  particular  account  in  the  viiith  chap- 
ter of  the  fecond  book  of  Samuel  ;  and  David  extended 
their  border  to  the  river  Euphrates,  as  was  promifed  ;  [fee 
the  3d  verfe;]   '  and  David  fmote  alfo  Hadadezer  the  fon 

*  of  Rehob,  king  of  Zobah,  as  he  went  to   recover   his 

*  border  at  the  river  Euphrates.'  And  accordingly  we 
read,  that  Solomon  his  fon  [i  Kings  iv.  24.]   *  had  domi- 

*  nion  over  all  the  region  on  this  fide  the  river,  from 
'  Tiphfah  even  unto  Azzah,  over  all  the  kings  on  this 
'  fule  the  river.'  This  Artaxerxes,  king  of  Perfia,  takes 
notice  of  long  after:  [Ezra  iv.  20'.]  '  There  have  been 
'  mighty  kings  alfo  over  Jerufalem,  which  have  niled  over 

*  all 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        249 

Jiiid.  chap,  of  his  prophecy,  (u)  There  is  icarce  a  chapter 
in  the  New  Teftament  itfelf  more  full  of  it.  And  how 
much,  and  in  what  a  flrain,  does  the   fame  prophet  fpeak 

from 

(u)  Ifdiah prediBed  Chrl/Fs  sufferings.]  The  glorious  pro- 
phecy here  referred  to  commences  with  the  1 3th  verfe  of  chap.  lii. 
and  includes  the  whole  of  chap.  liii.  It  is  fo  important  and  ex- 
cellent a  prophecy,  that  we  are  perfuaded  our  readers  will  admit 
the  propriety  of  reviewing  at  leaft  the  principal  verfes  in  it. 

We  begin,  for  brevity  fake,  with  chap.  liii.  4.  '  Surely  he  hath 
'  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our  forrows,'  not  only  by  fympa- 
thy  in,  fupport  under,  and  a  miraculous  deliverance  from  them; 
[Matt.  viii.  16,  17.]  but  as  Handing  in  our  place,  he  bare  our  fins 
in  his  own  body,   [i  Pet.  ii.  24.]   *  Yet  we  efteemed  him   [judi- 

*  cially]  flricken,  fmitten  of  God  and  afflifted.'  He  was  treated 
by  his  own  people,  the  Jews,  as  an  impoftor,  a  blafphemer,  and 
accurfed  of  God. 

Ver.  V.    *  But  he  was  wounded  for  our  tranfgreflions  ;  he   was 

*  bruifed  for  our  iniquities:    the  chaftifement  of  our  peace   (by 

*  which  our  peace  is  effe6led)  was  laid  upon  him  ;  and  with   his 

*  ftripes  (or  by  hisbruifes)  are  we  healed.'  Wonderful  Redeemer! 
by  what  extraordinary  methods  of  love  and  grace  doll  thou  effeft 
the  falvation  of  thy  people  ! 

Ver.  6.   '  All  we,  like  fheep  have  gone  aftray  ;  we  have  turned 

*  every  one  to  his  own  way;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid  (hath  made 

*  to  light)  upon  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all.'  As  the  fins  of  Ifrael 
were  laid  on  the  fcape-goat,  and  fent  into  the  land  of  oblivion  ;  fo 
were  our  fins,  in  all  their  aggravated  and  complicated  heinoufnefs, 
made  to  meet  by  imputation  upon  him  ;  and  he  fuffered  '  the  juil 

*  for  the  unjuft,'  to  bring  us  unto  God  !     [i  Peter  iii.  18.] 

Ver.  7.  '  He  was  oppreffed,  and  he  was  afflifted' — Bp.  Lotuth^s 
tranflation  is  more  elegant  and  pointed  ;  '  It  [/.  e.  the  punlfhment 
of  finj  was  exacted,  and  he  was  made  anfwerable,'  juft  as  a 
furety  when  a  debtor  becomes  infolvent:  but  whether  this  verfioii 
be  more  exaft  and  dcfenfible,  we  mull  not  now  ftop  to  inquire. 
— The  prophet  goes  on,    '  Yet  he  opened  not  his  mouth;  he  is 

*  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  flaughter,  and  as  a  fheep  before  her 

*  fhearers  is  dumb,  fo  he  opened  not  his  mouth.'  How  literally 
was  this  fulfilled  in  the  behaviour  of  the  lamb  of  God! 

Ver.  8.  '  He  was  taken  from  prifon  and  from  judgment :'  but 
the  word  [llfy]  does  not  appear  to  fignify  a  prifon,  nor  was  our 
Lord  ever  confined  in  one;  we  therefore  here  again  prefer  the 
rendering  of  Bp.  Loivth,  "  By  an  opprefTive  judgment  was  he 
taken  off,  and  who  fhail  declare  his  generation  ?"  ;.  e.  as  his 
Loidfhip  has  largely  and  fatisfa£lorily  proved,  '  Who  would  de- 

*  claie  hjs  manner  of  life  ?'  v.-:io  fhall  witnefs  the  purity  uf  iiis 

K  k  conducl 


iSO        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

from  time  to  rime  of  the  glorious  benefits  of  Chrlft,  the 
unfpeakable  bleffings  which  fliall  redound  to  his  church 
through  his  redemption !    Jcfus  Chrift,     the   perfon  that 

this 

conduft  and  chara'9:er  ? — Peter,  where  art  thou  P — Alas!  he  has 
denied  his  Mailer,  and  the  reft  of  his  difciples  have  all  forfaken 
him  and  fled.  Nor  would  his  enemies  have  admitted  evidence, 
had  it  appeared,  *  For  he  was  cut  off  from  the  land  of  the  living  ; 

*  for  the  tranfgrefTion  of  my  people  was  he  ftricken.' 

Ver.  9.  '  And  he  made  his  grave,' — or  rather,  '  His  grave  was 

*  appointed  with  the   wicked,    and  with   the  rich,' — not   '  in  his 

*  death,'  but  '  with  the  rich  man  was  his  tomb;' — So  Schindler, 
Drnfius,  Drs.  Hunt,  Gr.  Sharp,  yuhh,  Bp.  Lotuth,  &c.  which  ex- 
actly correfponds  with  the  event  recorded  by  the  evangelift. 
[Matt,  xxvii.  57 — 60. j — *  Bccaufe  (or  although)  he  had  done  no 

*  violence,  neither  was  guile  found  in  his  mouth  ;   [ver.  10.]  yet 

*  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  bruife  him,  he  hath  put  [him]  to  grief.' 
' — '  When  thou  fhalt  make  his  foul  an  offering  for  fin,'  i.  e,  as 
Bp.  Loivih,   '  a  propitiatory  facrifice,' — '  He  fliall  fee  (his)  feed, 

*  he  fliall  prolong  (his)  days,' — or,  '  which  fliall  prolong  their 

*  days, — and  the  pleafure  of  the  Lord  fliall  profper  in  his  hand.' 
This  and  the  following  verfes  plainly  predicted  not  only  the  fuf- 
fcrings  of  Chriil,  and  the  caufe  and  nature  of  them,  as  an  atone- 
ment for  our  fins,  but  alfo  the  glory  that  was  to  follow,  when 
he  fliould  fee  of  the  travail  of  his  foul  and  be  fatisfied,  which  was 
accompliflied  when  Jcfus  arofe  from  the  dead,  afcended  up  on 
high,  and  befliowcd  that  copious  efFufion  of  the  Spirit,  by  which 
thoufands  were  converted  at  a  fermon. 

But  what  fay  the  Jews  to  this  prophecy  ?  Some  refer  it  to  Je- 
remiah, others  to  tlie  people  of  Ifrael ;  it  is  hard  to  fay  which 
of  thefe  is  moll  abfurd,  but  fome  have  honefl;ly  confefled,  "  The 
Rabbins  of  blefled  memory  with  one  lip,  according  to  received 
tradition,  declare  that  thefe  words  arc  fpoken  of  Melliah  the 
King." — Arfd  when  the  Spirit  fliall  be  poured  out  again  from  on 
high,  then  fliall  they  l)ehold  him  whom  they  have  pierced,  and 
mourn,  and  believe  in  him. 

We  fliall  only  add,  that  by  this  remarkable  prophecy  the  eu- 
nuch was  converted  to  Chriftianity  in  the  apoilolic  age,  [Adts  viii. 
27 — 40.]  and  near  our  own  times,  a  noble,  but  profligate  earl, 
[Lord  Rochefter]  owed  his  converfion  to  the  fame  means.  His 
lordfliip  confefled,  that  as  he  heard  this  chapter  read,  "  He  felt 
an  inward  force  upon  him,  which  did  fi)  enlighten  his  mind,  and 
convince  him,  that  he  could  refifl;  it  no  longer ;  for  the  words 
had  an  authority,  which  did  flioot  like  rays  into  his  mind,  .... 
which  did  fo  cflTeftually  confl:rain  him,  that  he  did  ever  after  as 
firmly  believe  in  liis  Saviour,  as  if  he  had  feen  him  in  the  clouds." 
[See  Bp.  Loiuth's,  Ifaiah,  and  Dr.  Gr.  Sharps  Arg.  from  the  Pro- 
phecies, p.  222,  iScc.  from  whom  the  fubftance  of  the  above  is  chiefly 
taken.]  [1.  N.] 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.       251 

this  prophet  fpoke  fo  much  of,  once  appeared  to  Ifaiah  in  the 
form  of  the  human  nature,  the  nature  that  he  Ihould  after- 
wards take  upon  him.     [Ch.vi.  i.]     '   I  faw  alfo  the  Lord 

*  fitting  on  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his  train  filled 

*  the  temple,'  &c.  It  was  Chrifk  that  Ifaiah  now  faw,  as 
we  are  cxprefsly  told  in  the  New  Teftament.  [John  xii. 
39—41.] 

And  if  we  confider  the  abundant  prophecies  of  this  and 
the  other  prophets,  what  a  great  increafe  was  there  of  the 
light  of  the  gofpel  ?  How  plentiful  are  the  revelations  and 
prophecies  of  Chrift  now,  to  what  they  were  in  the  firfl: 
period  of  the  Old  Tcftament,  from  Adam  to  Noah?  or  in 
the  fecond,  from  Noah  to  Abraham  ?  or  to  what  they  were 
before  Mofes,  or  in  tiie  time  of  Mofes,  Jolhua  and  the 
Judges  ?  Great  part  of  the  Old  Teftament  was  written  now 
from  the  days  of  Uzziah  to  the  captivity  into  Babylon.  And 
how  excellent  are  thofe  portions  of  it !  V/hat  a  precious 
treafure  have  thofe  prophets  committed  to  the  church  of 
God,  tending  greatly  to  confirm  the  gofpel  of  Chrift  !  and 
which  has  been  of  great  comfort  and  benefit  to  God's  church 
in  all  ages  fmce,  and  doubtlefs  will  be  to  the  end  of  the  world. 


§  VI.  From  the  Babylonish  captivity  to  the  coming 
of  Christ. 

I  COME  now  to  the  laft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
viz.  that  which  begins  witJi  the  Babylonifli  captivity,  and 
extends  to  the  coming  of  Chrifr,  being  the  greateft  part  of 
fix  hundred  years,  to  Ihow  how  the  work  of  redemption 
was  carried  on  through  this  time.— But  before  I  enter  upon 
particulars,  I  would  obferve  three  things  wherein  this  is 
diftinguilhed  from  the  preceding. 

(i.)  Though  we  have  no  account  of  a  great  part  of 
this  period  in  the  fcripture  hiftory,  yet  the  events  of  it  are 
more  the  fubjeft  of  fcripture  prophecy,  than  any  of  the 
preceding.  There  are  two  ways  wherein  the  fcripturcs 
give  account  of  the  events  by  which  the  work  of  redemp- 

K  k  2  tlon 


252        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

tion  is  carried  on,  viz.  hiftory,  and  prophecy :  and  in  one 
or  the  other  of  thefe  ways,  we  have,  in  the  fcriptures,  an 
account  how  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the 
beginning.  Although  they  are  not  a  proper  hiftory  of  the 
whole,  yet  therein  is  contained  the  chain  of  all  the  great 
events  bv  which  this  affair  hath  been  carried  on  from  the 
fall  to  the  end  of  the  world,  either  in  hiftory  or  prophecy. 
And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  where  the  fcripture  is  want- 
ing in  one  of  thefe  ways,  it  is  made  up  in  the  other.  Where 
fcripture  hiflory  fails,  there  prophecy  takes  place  ;  fo  that 
the  account  is  flill  carried  on,  and  the  chain  is  not  broken, 
till  we  come  to  the  very  lafl:  link  of  it  in  the  confummatiori 
of  all  things. 

And  accordingly  it  is  obfervable  of  tlie  period  or  fpace 
of  time  thatwc  are  upon,  that  though  it  is  fo  much  lefs  the 
fubjeft  of  fcripture  hiftory,  than  moft  of  the  preceding,  fo 
that  tliere  is  above  four  hundred  years  of  which  the  fcrip- 
ture gives  us  no  hiftory,  yet  the  events  of  this  period  are 
more  the  fubje6l  of  prophecy  tlian  all  the  preceding  toge- 
ther. Moft  of  thofe  remarkable  prophecies  of  the  book  of 
Daniel ;  alfo  moft  of  thofe  in  Ifaiali,  Jeremiah,  and  Ezekiel, 
againft  Babylon,  Tyrus,  Egypt,  and  many  other  nations, 
were  fuHilled  jn  this  period. 

Thus  the  reafon  why  the  fcriptures  give  us  no  hiftory 
of  fo  great  a  part  of  this  period,  is  not  becaufe  the  events 
of  this  period  were  not  fo  important,  or  lefs  worthy  to  be 
taken  notice  of,  than  the  events  of  the  foregoing;  but 
there  are  feveral  other  reafons  which  may  be  given  of  it. 
One  is,  that  it  was  the  will  of  God  that  the  fpirit  of  pro- 
phecy fhould  ceafe  in  this  period,  (for  reafons  that  may 
be  given  hereafter)  ;  fo  that  there  were  no  prophets  to 
write  the  hiftory  of  thefe  times  ;  and  therefore  God  de- 
figning  this,  took  care  that  the  great  events  of  this  period 
fhould  not  be  without,  mention  in  his  word.  It  is  ob- 
fervable, that  that  fet  of  writing  prophets  that  God  raifed 
lip  in  Ifrael,  were  raifed  up  at  the  latter  end  of  the  fore- 
going period,  and  at  the  beginning  of  this  ;  which  it  is 
iikcly  was  partly  for  that  reafon,  ^that  the  time  was  now 
approaching,    of  which,    the  fpirit  of   prophecy   having 

ceafed. 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.         253 

ceafed,  there  was  to  be  no  fcripture  hiftory,  and  therefore 
no  other  fcripture  account  than  what  was  given  in  pro- 
phecy. 

Another  reafon  that  may  be  given  why  there  was  fo 
great  a  part  of  this  period  left  without  an  hiftorical  ac- 
count in  fcripture,  is,  that  God  in  his  providence  took 
care,  that  there  Ihould  be  authentic  and  full  accounts  of 
the  events  of  this  period  prefervcd  in  profane  hiftory.  It 
is  remarkable,  that  with  refpeil  to  the  events  of  the  five 
preceding  periods,  of  which  the  fcriptures  give  the  hif- 
tory, profane  hiftory  gives  us  no  account,  or  at  leaft  of 
but  very  few  of  them.  There  are  many  fabulous  and 
uncertain  accounts  of  things  that  happened  before  ;  but 
the  beginning  of  the  times  of  authentic  profane  hiftory 
is  judged  to  be  but  little  more  than  an  hundred  years 
before  Nebuchadnezzar's  time.  The  learned  men  among 
the  Greeks  and  Romans  ufed  to  call  the  ages  before  that  the 
fabulous  age  ;  but  the  times  after  that  they  called  the  hijio- 
rlcal  age.  And  from  about  that  time  to  the  coming  of 
Chrift,  we  have  undoubted  accounts  in  profane  hiftory 
of  the  principal  events ;  accounts  that  wonderfully  agree 
with  the  many  prophecies  that  we  have  in  fcripture  of 
thofe  times. 

Thus  did  the  great  God,  that  difpofes  all  things,  take 
care  to  give  an  hiftorical  account  of  things  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world,  through  all  thofe  former  ages  which 
profane  hiftory  docs  not  reach,  and  ceafed  not  till  he  came 
to  tliofe  later  ages  in  which  profane  hiftory  related  things 
with  fome  certainty  :  and  concerning  thofe  times,  he  gives 
us  abundant  account  in  prophecy,  that  by  comparing 
profane  hiftory  with  thofe  prophecies,  we  might  fee  their 
agreement. 

(2.)  This  being  the  laft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
and  the  next  to  the  coming  of  Chrift,  feems  to  have  been 
remarkably  diftinguiftied  from  all  others  in  the  great  re- 
volutions that  were  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  to 
make  way  for  his  kingdom.  The  time  now  drawing  nigh, 
wherein  Chrift,  the  great  King  and  Saviour  of  the  world, 
was  to  come,  great  arid  mighty  were  the  changes  that  were 

brought 


254        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

brought  to  pafs  in  order  to  it.  The  way  had  been  prepar- 
ing for  his  coming,  from  the  fall  of  man,  through  all  the 
foregoing  periods ;  but  now  the  time  drawing  nigh,  things 
began  to  ripen  apace,  and  Divine  Providence  wrought 
wonderfully  now.  The  greateft  revolutions  that  any  hif- 
tory  whatfoever  gives  an  account  of,  fell  out  in  this  pe- 
riod. Almoft  all  the  then  known  world,  i.  e.  all  the 
nations  tliat  were  round  about  the  land  of  Canaan,  far  and 
near,  that  were  within  the  reach  of  their  knowledge,  were 
overturned  again  and  again.  All  lands  were  in  their  turns 
fubdued,  captivated,  and  as  it  were,  emptied,  and  turned 
upfide  down,  and  tliat  moft  of  them  repeatedly,  in  this 
period;  agreeable  to  that  prophecy,  [Ifa.  xxiv.  i.]  '  Be- 
*  hold,  the  Lord  maketh  the  earth  empty ;  he  maketh  it 
'  warte,  and  turneth  it  upfide  down,  and  fcattcreth  abroad 
''   the  inhabitants  thereof.' 

This  ernptying,  and  turning  upfide  down,  began  with 
God's  vifible  church,  in  their  captivity  by  the  king  of 
Babylon.  And  tlien  the  cup  from  them  went  round  to 
all  other  nations^  agreeable  to  what  God  revealed  to  the 
prophet  Jeremiah,  [xxv.  i^ — 27.]  Here  fpecial  refpe£l 
feems  to  be  had  to  the  great  revolutions  that  there  were 
on  the  face  of  the  earth  in  the  times  of  the  Babylonilh 
empire.  But,  after  that,  there  were  three  general  over- 
turnings  of  the  world  before  Chriil:  came,  in  the  fuccefllon 
of  the  three  great  monarchies  of  the  world  that  arofe  after 
the  Babylonilh  empire.  The  king  of  Babylon  is  repre- 
fented  in  fcripture  as  overturning  the  world  ;  but  after  that 
the  Babylonilh  empire  was  overthrown  by  Cyrus,  who 
founded  the  Perfian  empire  in  the  room  of  it  ;  which 
was  of  much  greater  extent  than  the  Babylonifh  empire 
in  its  greateft  glory.  Thus  the  world  was  overturned  the 
fccond  time.  And  then,  after  that,  the  Perfian  empire 
was  overthrown  by  Alexander,  and  the  Grecian  fet  up 
upon  the  ruins  of  it ;  which  was  ftill  of  much  greater 
extent  than  the  Perfian  :  and  thus  there  was  a  general 
overturning  of  the  world  a  third  time.  And  then,  after 
that,  the  Grecian  empire  was  overthrown  by  the  Romans, 
and  the  Roman  on  it  eftablilhed  ; 'which  vaftly  exceeded 

all 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        255 

all  the  foregoing  empires  in  power  and  extent  of  domi- 
nion. And  fo  the  world  was  overturned  the  fourth 
time. 

Thefe  feveral  monarchies,  and  the  great  revolutions  of 
the  world  under  them,  are  abundantly  fpoken  of  in  the 
proplrecies  of  Daniel.  They  are  reprefentcd  in  Nebu- 
chadnezzar's image  of  gold,  filver,  brafs,  and  iron,  and 
Daniel's  interpretation  of  it  in  the  fecond  chapter,  and  the 
vifion  of  the  four  beads,  and  the  angel's  interpretation  of 
it  in  chap.  vii.  And  the  fucceffion  of  the  Perfian  and 
Grecian  monarchies  is  more  particularly  reprefented  in  the 
viith  chap,  in  the  viiion  of  the  ram  and  the  he-goat,  and 
again  in  chap.  xi. 

And  befide  thefe  four  general  overturnings  of  the  world, 
the  world  was  kept  in  a  conftant  tumult  between  whiles  ; 
and  indeed  was  as  it  were  in  a  continual  convulfion  through 
this  whole  period  till  Chrift  came.  But  before  this  period, 
the  face  of  the  earth  was  comparatively  in  quietnefs : 
though  there  were  many  great  wars,  yet  we  read  of  no 
fuch  mighty  and  univerfal  convulfions  as  there  were  in 
this  period.  The  nations  of  the  world,  mofl  of  them, 
had  long  remained  on  their  lees,  as  it  were,  without  be- 
ing emptied  from  veflTel  to  vefTel,  as  is  faid  of  Moab,  [  Jer. 
xlviii.  II.]  Now  thefe  great  overturnings  were  becaufc 
the  time  of  the  great  Meffiah  drew  nigh.  [Ezek.  xxi. 
27.]  '  J  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn  it,  audit  fliall 
'  be  no  more,  until  he  come  whofe  riglit  it  is,  and  I  will 
*  give  it  him.'  The  prophet,  by  repeating  the  word  over- 
turn three  times,  has  refpe6l  to  three  overturnings,  as  in 
the  Revelation,  [viii.  13.]  The  repetition  of  the  word 
woe  three  times,  fignifies  three  diftin6l  woes ;  aS  appears 
by  what  follows,  [ix.  12.]  '  One  woe  is  pafl:  ;'  and  again 
[xi.  14.]  '  The  fecond  woe  is  pail:,  and  behold  the  third 
'  woe  com.eth  quickly.' 

It  muft  be  noted,  that  Ezekiel  prophefied  in  the  time 
of  the  Babylonifh  captivity ;  and  therefore  there  were 
three  great  and  general  overturnings  of  the  world  to  come 
after  this  prophecy,  before  Chrift  came  ;  the  firft  by  the 
Perfians,  the  fecond   by  the   Grecians,  the  third  by  the 

Romans ; 


256        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

Romnns  ;  and  then  after  that,  Chrift,  whofe  right  it  was 
to  take  the  diadem  and  reign,  fhould  come.  Here  thefe 
great  revolutions  are  evidently  ipoken  of  as  preparatory  to 
the  coming  and  kingdom  of  Chrifi:.  But  to  underftand  the 
words  right,  we  mull:  note  the  particular  expreffion,  '  I 
*  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn  /'/,'  /.  e.  the  diadem 
and  crown  of  lirael,  or  the  fuprerae  temporal  dominion 
over  God's  vifible  people.  This  God  faid  fhould  be  no 
more,  i.  c.  the  crown  iliould  be  taken  off,  and  the  diadem 
removed,  as  it  is  faid  in  the  foregoing  verfe.  The  fupreme 
power  over  Ifrael  fliould  be  no  more  in  the  royal  line  of 
David,  to  which  it  properly  belonged,  but  fhould  be  re- 
moved away,  and  given  to  others,  and  overturned  from 
one  to  another  :  firft  the  fupreme  power  over  Ifrael  iliould 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  Perlians ;  and  then  it  fliould  be  over- 
turned again,  and  come  into  the  hands  of  the  Grecians  ; 
and  then  it  ihould  be  overturned  again,  and  come  into  the 
hands  of  the  Romans,  and  fhould  be  no  more  in  the  line  of 
David,  till  that  very  perfon  Ihould  come,  that  was  the  fon 
of  David,  whofe  proper  right  it  was,  and  to  whom  God 
would  give  it.  (w) 

That  thofe  great  revolutions  were  all  to  prepare  the 
way  for  Chrift's  coming,  and  eredting  his  kingdom  in  the 
world,  is  farther  manifeft  by  Haggai,  [ii.  6,  7.]  '  For 
'■  thus  faid  the  Lord  of  hofts,  Yet  once  it  is  a  little  while, 
'  and  I  will  fhake  the  heavens,  and  the  earth,  arid  the 

'  fea, 

(\v)  TTiif  CROWN  of  If7-ael  overturned.']  In  a  preceding  Note, 
(g,  p.  161.)  we  have  fhewn,  that  the  fceptre  was  not  to  depart 
until  Shiloh  came  ;  here  we  fee  the  crown  was  to  be  taken  away, 
and  not  rejlored  till  the  Meffiah's  coming.  Thefe  aflertions  may 
appear  at  firft  fight  inconfillent ;  but  are  to  be  reconciled  by  a 
very  obvious  dittinftion  between  the.  fceptre  of  the  tribe,  and  the 
diadem  of  the  kingdom.  It  is  certain,  as  our  author  has  fiiewn, 
that  long  before  Chrift's  incarnation  the  Jews  became  fubjeft  to 
the  heathen  empires,  and  yet  were  not  wholly  Ih-ipt  of  temporal 
power  till  afterward.  They  preferved  a  form  of  civil,  as  well  as 
ecclefiaftical  government  of  their  own  ;  yet  were  in  a  ttate  of  vaf- 
falage  and  lubjeftion  to  other  crowns.      In  a  word,  they  had  a 

power,  but  not  the  fupreme  power,  among  themfelves. This 

makes  the  accomplilliment  of  thefe  prophecies  much  more  re- 
markable. [I-  N.J 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        225 

*  all  countries  beyond  the  river  ;  and  toll,  tribute  and  cuf- 

*  torn  was  paid  unto  them.' 

So  that  Jofliua,  that  type  of  Chrifl:,  did  but  begin  the 
work  of  giving  Ifrael  the  poffeffion  of  the  promifed  land  ; 
and  left  it' to  be  finlflied  by  that  much  greater  type  and  an- 
ceftor  of  Chrift,  even  David,  who  fubdued  far  more  of 
that  land  than  ever  Jofhua  had  done.  And  in  this  ex- 
tent of  his  and  Solomon's  dominion  was  fome  refem- 
blance  of  the  great  extent  of  Chrift's  kingdom,  and  thcre- 
tfbre  the  extent  of  Chrift's  kingdom  is  thus  exprefied, 
[Pfal.  Ixxii.  8.]     '  He  fhall  have  dominion  alfo  from  fea 

*  to  fea,  and  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.' 
[See  alfo  i  Kings  viii.  56.] 

9.  God  by  David  perfefted  the  Jewirti  worfliip,  and 
added  to  it  feveral  new  inftitutions.  The  law  was  given 
by  Mofes,  but  yet  all  the  inllitutions  of  the  Jewifh  wor- 
fliip were  not;  fome  were  afterwards  added  by  divine  di- 
retiion.  So  this  great  type  of  Chrift  did  not  only  per- 
fe6l  Jodiua's  work,  in  giving  Tfrael  the  poffeffion  of  the 
promifed  land,  but  he  alfo  finiihed  Mofes's  work,  in  per- 
fe«Sl:ing  the  inflituted  worfhip  of  Ifrael.  Thus  there  mufl; 
be  a  number  of  typical  prophets,  priefts,  and  princes,  to 
complete  one  figure  or  fliadow  of  Chrift  the  antitype,  he 
being  the  fubftance  of  all  the  types  and  fliadows.  Of  fo 
much  more  glory  was  Chrift  accounted  worthy,  than  Mo- 
fes, Jofliua,  David,  Solomon,  and  all  the  propliets,  priefts, 
and  princes,  judges,  and  faviours  of  tlie  Old  Teftament. 

The  ordinances  of  David  are  mentioned  as  of  equal 
validity    with    thofe    of    Mofes,     [2    Chron.   xxiii.    18.] 

*  Alfo  Jehoiada  appointed  the  offices  of  the  houfe  of  the 
'   Lotd  by  the  hand  of  the  priefts  the  Levites,   whom  Da- 

*  vid  had  diftributed  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  to  offer 
'   the  burnt-offerings  of  the  Lord,    as  it  is  written  in  the 

*  law  of  Mofes,  with  rejoicing  and  with  ftnging,  as  it  was 
'  ordained  by  David.'  The  worlhip  of  Ifrael  was  per- 
fe6ted  by  David,  by  the  addition  that  he  made  to  the  ce- 
remonial law,  which  we  have  an  account  of  from  the 
xxiiid  to  the  xxvith  chapters  of  the  hrft  book  of  Chro- 
nicles,   confifting  in  the   feveral  orders   and   courfes  into 

G  g  which 


226        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

which  David  divided  the  Levites,  and  the  work  and  bufi- 
nefs  to  which  he  appointed  them,  different  from  what  Mofes 
had  done  ;  and  alfo  In  the  divUlons  of  the  priefts  the  fons 
of  Ap.ron  into  four  and  twenty  courfes,  affigning  to  every 
courfe  their  hufinefs  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  their 
particular  flated  times  of  attendance  there  ;  and  appointing 
fome  of  the  Levites  to  a  new  office,  which  was  that  of 
fingers ;  and  particularly  ordering  and  regulating  them  in 
that  office,  as  you  may  fee  in  the  xxvth  chapter  of  the  ift 
of  Chronicles  ;  and  appointing  others  of  the  Levites  by 
law  to  the  feveral  fervices  of  porters,  treafurers,  officers, 
and  judges:  and  thefe  ordinances  of  David  were  kept  up 
henceforth  in  the  church  of  Ifrael,  as  long  as  it  remained. 
Thus  we  find  the  feveral  orders  of  priefts,  and  the  Levites, 
the  porters,  and  fingers,  after  the  captivity.  So  we  find 
the  courfes  of  the  priefts  appointed  by  David  ftill  continu- 
ing in  the  Tew  Tefiament ;  Zacharias  the  father  of  Joha 
the  Baptift  was  a  prieit  of  the  courfe  of  Abia  ;  whicli  is  the 
fame  with  the  courfe  of  Abijah  appointed  by  David,  [i 
Chron.  xxiv.  lo.] 

Thus  David  as  well  as  Mofes  was  like  Chrifl  in  this 
refpeil,  that  by  him  God  gave  in  fome  degree  a  new  ec- 
clefiaftical  eilablifhment,  and  new  inftitution  of  worfliip. 
Not  only  i'o,  but  by  thofe  additions  David  abolilhcd 
fome  of  the  old  inftitutions  of  Mofes  that  had  been  in 
force  till  that  time  ;  particularly  thofe  laws  that  appointed 
the  hufinefs  of  the  Levites,  which  we  have  in  the  iiid  and 
ivth  chapters  of  Numbers,  which  very  much  confifted  in 
their  charges  of  the  feveral  parts  and  utenfils  of  the  taber- 
nacle there  affigned  to  them,  and  in  carrying  thofe  feveral 
parts  of  the  tabernacle.  But  thofe  laws  were  now  aboliflied 
by  David;'  and  they  were  no  more  to  carry  thofe  things,  as 
they  had  been  ufed  to  do.  But  David  appointed  them  to 
other  work  inftead  of  it;  [i  Chron.  xxiii.  26.]  '  And 
'  alfo  unto  the  Levites,  they  Ihall  no  more  carry  the  taber- 
'  nacle,  nor  any  vefTels  of  it  for  the  fervice  thereof:'  a  furc 
evidence  that  the  ceremonial  law  given  by  Mofes  is  not 
perpetual,  as  the  jews  fuppofe  ;  but  might  be  wholly  abo- 
liihed  by  Chrift :  for  if  David,  a  type  of  the  Meffiah,  might 

abolifli 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        227 

abolifh  the  law  of  Mofes  in  part,  much  more  might  the 
Mefliah  himfelf  aholifh  the  whole. 

David,  by  God's  appointment,  abollfhed  all  ufe  of  the 
tabernacle  tiiat  was  built  by  Mofes,  and  of  which  he 
had  the  pattern  from  God:  for  God  now  revealed  it 
to  David  to  be  his  will,  that  a  temple  fhould  be  built, 
that  fliould  be  inftead  of  the  tabernacle,  A  prefage 
of  what  Chrift,  the  fon  of  David,  would  do,  when 
he  fhould  come,  viz.  abolifh  the  whole  Jewifh  eccle- 
ilaftical  conftitution,  which  was  but  as  a  moveable  ta- 
bernacle, to  fet  up  the  fpiritual  gofpel-tcmple,  which 
was  to  be  far  more  glorious,  and  of  greater  extent,  and 
was  to  laft  for  ever.  David  had  the  pattern  of  all  things 
pertaining  to  the  temple  fliown  him,  even  in  like  manner 
as  Mofes  had  the  pattern  of  the  tabernacle :  and  Solomon 
built  the  temple  according  to  that  pattern  which  he  had 
from  his  father  David,  which  he  received  from  God. 
[i  Chron.  xxviii.  11,  12,  19.]    '  Then  David  gave  to  So- 

*  lomon  his  fon   the  pattern   of    the  porch,    and  of  the 

*  houfes  thereof,  and  of  the  treafuries  thereof,  and  of  the 

*  upper  chambers  thereof,  and  of  the  inner  parlours  there- 

*  of,  and  of  the  place  of  the  mercy-feat,  and  the  pattern 

*  of  all  that  he  had  by  tlie  Spirit,  of  the  courts  of  all  the 

*  houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  of  all  the  chambers  round  about, 

*  of  the  treafuries  of  the  houfe  of  God,  and  of  the  trea- 

*  furies  of  the  dedicated  things All  this, 

*  (faid  David,)   the  Lord  made  me   undcrfland  in   writing 

*  by   his    hand   upon    me,    even    all    the    works   of  this 

*  pattern.' 

10.  The  canon'  of  fcripture  fcems  about  the  clofe  of 
David's  reign  to  have  been  farther  enlarged  by  the  pro- 
phets Nathan  and  Gad.  It  appears  probable  by  the  fcrip- 
tures,  that  they  carried  on  the  hillory  of  the  two  books 
of  Samuel  from  the  place  where  Samuel  tirft  left  it,  and 
finilhcd  them.  Thefe  feem  to  be  the  book  that  in  fciip- 
ture  is  called  the  book  of  Samuel  the  feer,  and  Nathan  the 
prophet,  and  Gad  the  feer.    [i  Chron.  xxix.  29.]    '  Now 

*  the  ads  of  David  the  king,  hrfl   and  laft,  behold  they 

G  g  2  '  are 


zzn-       HiStOI^Y   6t   REDEMPTION. 

*  are  written  in  the  book  of  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  in 
*■  the  book  of  Gad  the  fe^r.'* 

1 1 .  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's 
wonderfully  continuing  the  kingdom  of  his  vifible  people 
m  the  line  of  Chrift's  legal  anreftors,  as  long  as  they  re- 
mained an  independent  kingdom.  Thus  it  was  without  any 
interruption  worth  notice.  Indeed,  the  kingdom  of  all  the 
tribes  was  not  kept  in  that  line ;  but  the  dominion  of  that 
part  of  Ifrael  in  which  the  true  worflvip  of  God  was  upheld, 
and  which  were  God's  vifible  people,  was  always  kept  in 
the  family  of  David,  as  long  as  there  was  any  fuch  thing  as 
an  independent  king  of  Ifrael,  according  to  his  promife  to 
David  :  and  not  only  iji  the  family  of  David,  but  always 
in  that  part  of  David's  pollerity  that  was  the  line  whence 
Chrift  legally  defcended  ;  fo  that  the  very  perfon  that  was 
Chrift's  legal  anceftor,  was  always  in  the  throne,  excepting 
Jehoahaz,  who  reigned  three  months,  and  Zedekiah  ;  as 
you  may  fee  in  Matthew's  genealogy  of  Chrift. 

Chrift  Was  legally  defcended  from  the  kings  of  Judah, 
though  not  naturally.  He  was  both  legally  and  naturally 
defcended  from  David.  He  was  naturally  defcended  from 
Nathan  the  fon  of  David  ;  for  Mary  his  mother  was  one 
of  the  pofterity  of  David  by  Nathan,  as  you  may  fee  in 
Luke's  genealogy  :  (n)  but  Jofeph,  the  reputed  and  legaf 
father  of  Chrilt,  was  naturally  defcended  of  Solomon  ancf 

his 

*  See  Note  (k)  p.  215. 

(n)  Mary  defcended  from  Nathan.']  *'  I  am  av\^are  that  Mr. 
L.e  Cleic,  and  many  other  learned  men,  have  thought  that  Jofeph 
was  begotten  by  Hell,  and  adopted  by  Jacob  :  but  I  much  rathcF 
conclude,  that  he  was  adopted  by  Hell,  or  rather  taken  by  hinl 
for  his  fon  upon  the  marriage  of  his  daughter,  and  that  Heli  wai 
the  father  of  Mary ;  becaufe  an  ancient  Jewifh  rabbi  exprefsly  calls 
her  *  the  daughter  of  Heli,'  and  chiefly  becaufe  elfe  we  have  indeed 
no  true  genealogy  of  Chrift  at  all,  but  only  two  different  views  of 
the  line  of  Jofeph,  his  reputed  father,  which  would  by  no  means 
prove  that  Chrift,  who  was  only  by  adoption  his  fon,  was  of  the 
feed  of  Abraham,  and  of  the  hou{~e  of  David.  Yet  the  apoftle 
fpeaks  of  it  as  evident,  that  Chrift  was  defcended  from  Judah, 
^Heb.  vii.  14.J  in  which,  if  this  gofpel  were  (as  antiquity  affures 
us)  written  by  the  direction  of  Paul,  perhaps  he  may  refer  to  this 
very  table  before  us." — [Doddridge's  Fam.  Expof.  §  9.] 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.         229 

his  fuccefTois,  as  we  have  an  account  in  Matthew's  gene- 
alogy. Jefus  Chrift,  though  he  was  not  the  natural  fon  of 
Jofeph,  yet,  by  the  law  and  conftitution  of  the  Jews,  he 
was  Jofeph's  heir,  becaufe  he  was  the  lawful  fon  of  Jo- 
feph's  lawful  wife,  conceived  while  fhe  was  his  legally 
efpoufed  wife.  The  Holy  Ghoft  raifed  up  feed  to  him.  A 
perfon,  by  the  law  of  Mofes,  might  be  the  legal  fon  and 
heir  of  another,  whofe  natural  fon  he  was  not ;  as  fome- 
times  a  man  raifed  up  feed  to  his  brother :  a  brother,  in 
fonic  cafes,  was  to  build  up  a  brother's  houfe  ;  fo  the  Holy 
Ghoft  built  up  Jofeph's  houfe, 

And  Jofeph  being  in  the  dire(£l  line  of  the  kings  of  Judah, 
of  the  houfe  of  David,  he  was  the  legal  heir  of  the  crown 
of  David;  and  Chrift  being  legally  his  iirft-born  fon,  he 
■was  his  heir  ;  and  fo  Chrift,  by  the  law,  was  the  proper 
heir  of  the  crown  of  David,  and  is  therefore  faid  to  fit 
upon  the  throne  of  his  father  David. 

The  crown  of  God's  people  was  wonderfully  kept  in 
the  line  of  Chrift's  legal  anceftors.  When  David  was  old, 
and  not  able  any  longer  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  king- 
dom, Adonijah,  one  of  his  fons,  fct  up  to  be  king,  and 
feemed  to  have  obtained  his  purpcfe  :  but  Adonijah  was  not 
that  fon  of  David  which  was  the  anceftor  of  Jofeph,  the 
legal  father  of  Chrift  ;  and  therefore  how  wonderfully  did 
Providence  work  here  !  what  a  ftrange  and  fudden  revo- 
lution !  All  Adonijah's  kingdom  and  glory  vanifticd  away 
as  foon  as  it  was  begun,  and  Solomon,  the  legal  anceftor 
of  Chrift,  was  eftabliftied  in  the  throne. 

And  after  Solomon's  death,  when  Jeroboam  had  con- 
fpired  againft  the  family,  and  Rehoboam  carried  himfelf 
fo  that  it  was  a  wonder  all  Ifrael  was  not  provoked  to  for- 
fake  him,  and  ten  tribes  did  ailuallv  forfake  him,  and  fet 
up  Jeroboam  iri  oppofttion  to  him  ;  and  though  Rehoboam 
was  a  wicked  man,  and  deferved  to  have  been  rejected 
?ltoget]ier  from  being  king,  yet  he  being  the  legal  anceftor 
of  Chrift,  God  kept  the  kingdom  of  the  two  tribes,  in 
which  the  true  religion  was  upheld,  in  his  pofleflion  ;  and 
notwithftanding  liis  fon  Abijam  was  another  wicked  prince, 
yet  they  being  Ic^ial  anceftors  of  Chpft,  God  ftill  continued 

the 


230        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

the  crown  in  the  family,  and  gave  it  to  Abijam's  fon 
Afa.  And  afterwards,  though  many  of  the  kings  of  Judah 
were  very  wicked,  and  horridly  provoked  God,  as  parti- 
cularly Jehoram,  Ahaziah,  Ahaz,  Manaffeh,  and  Amon  ; 
yet  God  did  not  take  away  the  crown  from  their  family, 
but  gave  it  to  their  fons  for  the  fame  reafon.  So  fpeak- 
ing  of  Abijam,  it  is  faid,   [i   Kings  xv.    4.]    '  Ne^erthe- 

*  lefs,  for   David's  fake  did  the  Lord  his  God  give  him 

*  a  lamp   in  Jerufalem,  to  fet  up  his  fon  after   him,  and 

*  to  eftablifh  Jerufalem  :'  alfo,  [2  Chron.  xxi.  7.]  fpeak- 
ing  of  Jehoram's  great  wickcdnefs,   it  is  faid,  '   Howbeit 

*  the  Lord  would  not  deftroy  the  houfe  of  David,  becaufc 

*  of  the  covenant  that  he  had  made  with  David,  and  as  he 
*■  had  promifed  to  give  a  light  unto  him,  and  to  his  fons 

*  for  ever.' 

The  crown  of  the  ten  tribes  was  changed  from  one  fa- 
mily to  another  continually.  Firft,  Jeroboam  took  it ;  but 
the  crown  remained  in  his  family  only  one  generation  after 
his  deatli,  it  only  defcended  to  his  fon  Nadab  ;  and  then 
Baaflia,  who  was  of  another  family,  took  it,  and  it  re- 
mained in  his  pofleritv  but  one  generation  alfo  after  his 
death;  and  then  Zimri,  who  was  his  fervant,  took  it; 
and  then,  without  defcending  at  all  to  his  pollerity,  Omri 
took  it,  and  the  crown  continued  in  his  family  for  three 
fuccefTions  ;  next  Jehu,  that  was  of  another  family,  took 
it,  and  the  crown  continued  in  his  family  for  three  or 
four  fucccflions ;  and  then  Shallum,  who  was  of  another 
family,  took  it  ;  and  the  crown  did  not  defcend  at  all  to 
his  pofterity,  but  Menahem  took  it,  and  it  remained  in 
his  family  but  one  generation  after  him  ;  and  then  Pekah, 
of  another  family,  took  it,  and  after  him  Hofhea,  who 
was  of  flill  another  family  ;—-ro  great,  a  ditterence  was 
there  between  the  crown  of  Ifiael,  and  the  crown  of  Ju- 
dah;  the  one  was  continued  evermore  in  the  fame  family, 
and  with  very  little  interruption,  in  one  right  line  ;  the 
other  was  continually  tolled  about  from  one  family  to 
another,  as  if  it  were  the  fport  of  fortune.  The  reafon 
was  not,  becaufe  the  kings  of  Judak,  many  of  them,  were 
better  than  the  kings  of  Ifracl,  but  the  one  h;'d  the  bleffing 

in 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        231 

in  tliem  ;  they  were  the  anceftors  of  Chrift,  whofe  right 
it  was  to  fit  on  the  throne  of  Ifrael :  hut  with  the  kings 
oflfrael  it  was  not  fo  ;  and  therefore  Divine  Providence 
cxercifed  a  continual  care,  through  all  the  changes  that 
happened  in  fo  many  generations,  and  fuch  a  long  fpace  of 
time,  to  keep  the  crown  of  Judah  in  one  diredl  line,  in 
fulfilment  of  the  everlafting  covenant  he  had  made  with 
David,  the  mercies  of  which  covenant  were  fure  mercies  : 
but  in  the  other  cafe,  there  was  no  fuch  covenant,  and  fo 
no  fuch  care  of  Providence. 

And  here  it  muft  not  be  omitted,  that  there  was  once  a 
very  ftrong  confpiracy  of  the  kings  of  Syria  and  Ifrael,  in 
the  time  of  that  wicked  king  of  Judah,  Ahaz,  to  difpof- 
fefs  him  and  his  family  of  the  throne  of  Judah,  and  to  fct 
one  of  another  family,  even  the  fon  of  Tabeal  on  it  , 
[Ifa.  vii.  6.]   '   Let  us   go  up    againfl:  Judah,  and  vex   it, 

*  and  let  us  make  a  breach  therein  for  us,  and  fet  a  king 

*  in  the  midft  of  it,  even  the  fon  of  Tabeal.'  And  they 
feemed  very  likely  to  accomplifli  their  purpofe  ;  infomuch 
that   it   is  faid,   [ver.    2.]    '   The  heart   of  Ahaz  and  his 

*  people  was  moved  as  the  trees  of  the  wood  are  moved 
'  with  the  wind.'  On  this  occafion  God  fent  the  prophet 
Ifaiah  to  encourage  the  people,  and  tell  them  that  it  fhould 
not  come  to  pafs.  And  becaiife  the  cafe  feemed  fo  def- 
pcrate  that  Ahaz  and  the  people  would  very  hardly  be- 
lieve, therefore  God  direils  the  prophet  to  give  them  this 
fign,  viz.  that  Chrill:  ihould  be  born  of  the  legal  feed  of 
Ahaz ;  [as  Ifa.  vii.  14.]  '  Therefore  the  Lord  himfelif 
'  (hall  give  you  a  fign  :  Behold,  a  virgin  fliall  conceive, 
'  and  bear  a  fon,  and  fliall  call  his  name  Immanuel.*   (o) 

This 

(0)  A  VIRGIN  ^rt//  conceive,  Iffc.']  That  this  text  referred  to 
Jefus  Chrift  might  be  fhown  from  a  variety  of  arguments  ;  as,  that 
this  cliild  was  to  be  born  of  a  virgin — that  he  was  to  be  Imrna- 
nucl,  Lord  oi  yudea,  [Ifa.  viii.  8.] — that  this  ciicumllance  is 
introduced  as  a  wonderful  event,  Bthold  I — that  it  was  confillent 
with  previous  intimations  in  earlier  prophecies,  [as  Gen.  iii.  15. J — 
that  it  was  fo  underftood  by  a  cotemporary  prophet,  [Micah  v.  3.] 
and  is  exprefsly  applied  to  this  event  in  the  New  Teilaraent,  where 
the  fad  is  afcertained.   [Matt.  i.  18 — 22.] 

But 


232        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

This  was  a  good  fign,  and  a  great  confirmation  of  the  truth 
■of  what  God  promifed  by  Ifaiah,  viz.  that  the  kings  of 
Syria  and  Ifrael  fhould  never  accompliili  their  purpofe  of 
difpofleffing  the  family  of  Ahaz  of  the  crown  of  Judah,  for 
Chrift  the  Immanuel  was  to  be  of  them. 

I  have  mentioned  this  difpenfation  of  Providence  in  this 
place,  becaufe  though  it  was  continued  for  fo  long  a  time, 
yet  it  began  in  Solomon's  fucceffion  to  the  throne  of  his 
father  David. 

12.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of  is,  the 
building  of  the  temple  :  a  great  type  of  three  things,  viz. 
of  the  human  nature  of  Chrill,  of  the  church,  and  of 
heaven,  (p)  The  tabernacle  feemed  rather  to  reprefenc 
the  church  in  its  moveable,  changeable  flate,  here  in 
this  world.  But  that  beautiful,  glorious,  coftly  firudlure 
of  the  temple  that  fucceeded  the  tabernacle,  and  was  im- 
moveably  fixed,  feems  efpecially  to  reprefent  the  church 
in  its  glorified  ftate  in  heaven.  This  temple  was  built 
according  to  the  pattern  fliewn  by  the  Holy  Ghcft  to 
David,  and   by   divine  diredtion  given    to  David,  in  the 

place 

But  the  confideration  of  thefe  would  lead  us  beyond  the  limits 
of  a  note,  we  fliall  therefore  only  obferve  that  the  principal  ob- 
jeftion  to  this  interpretation  (which  is  formed  from  the  context) 
might  be  obviated  by  a  flight  variation  in  rendering  the  following 
words,  *  Butter  and  honey  will  he  eat  that  hnoiveth  to  refufe  the 
*  evil  and  to  chufe  the  good  ;  but  before  this  child' — not  Imma- 
nuel,  but  Sheer-Jafhub,  whom  the  prophet  had  in  his  hand,  [ver.  3.] 
before  this  child — '  fliall  know,'  &:c.  This  however  we  fubmit  to 
the  confideration  of  the  learned. 

Our  author  has  very  happily  fliewn  how  the  birth  of  the  Mefliah 
was  a  fign  of  Ifrael's  deliverance  In  Ahaz's  time  ;  to  confirm  this 
and  obviate  any  objeftlon  drawn  therefrom  jt  might  be  added,  I. 
That  this  fign  was  not  given  to  Ahaz  pcrfonally,  but  to  the  houfe  bf 
David,  [ver.  13.]  and,  2.  That  wc  have  feveral  other  Inftanccs 
in  fcrlpture  of  diftant  events  being  mentioned  as  the  fign  of  prefent 
deliverance,  one  of  whicli  occurs  In  this  very  prophet.  [Ch.  xxxvil. 
30.]  And,  3.  That  it  Is  cuftomary  for  the  prophets,  and  in 
particular  Ifaiah,  to  conneft  with  the'  predltllon  of  temporal  de- 
liverance the  promlfes  of  the  fplrltual  iredcmption  to  be  effefted  by 
the  Mefliah.    [See  Note  G.  p.  209.] 

(p)  The  TEMPLE  rt /j;^^  (t/" the  human  nature  of  Christ.]  This 
our  author  has  fliown.   [See  alfo  John  I.  14.—- Col.  ii.  7.]   But  this 

temple 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.         233 

place  where  was  the  thre(hing-floor  of  Oman  the  Jebufite, 
in  Mount  Moriah,  [2  Chron.  iii.  i.]  in  the  fame  moun- 
tain, and  tloubtlefs  in  the  very  fame  place,  whete  Abra- 
ham offered  up  his  fon   Ifaac  ;    for  that   is  faid  to  be  a 

moun- 

temple,  (as  formerly  the  tabernacle)  was  divided  into  two  parts, 
the  Holy  and  Moft  Holy  place ;  the  former  pointing  at  what  Chrift 
ivas  and  did  in  his  ftate  of  incarnation  below,  the  latter  at  what  he 
is  and  does  in  his  prefent  ftate  of  exalted  glory;  as  will  appear  by 
an  induction  of  particulars : 

(i.)  The  candleftick  reprefents  him  as  "  the  true  light  which", 
coming  into  the  world,  enlightencth  every  man;"  [John  i.  9. — 
See  Doddridge]  and  the  feven  lamps  of  it  reprefent  "  the  feven 
fpirito,  or  the  fulnefs  of  the  fpirit  with  which  he  was  endued." 
[Ifa.  xi.  2,  3.     Rev.  i.  4.] 

(2.)  The  fiiewbread  alfo  prefigured  Chrift  as  'the  true  bread 
*  which  came  down  from  heaven,'  [John  vi.  5.]  and  its  divifion 
might  point  out  his  having  a  fnfficiency  of  bleffing  for  all  the  tribes 
of  Ifrael,  to  whom  in  a  particular  manner  he  was  fent.  [Matt. 
XV.   24.] 

(3.)  The  vail  itfelf  was  a  type  of  his  mortal  flefli,  [Heb.  x.  20.] 
which  was  rent,  to  admit  us  to  a  ftate  of  communion  with  him  in 
his  ftate  of  exalted  glory. 

We  now  come  to  the  fecond  part  of  the  tabernacle,  prefiguring 
the  human  nature  alfo,  or  at  Icaft  the  complex  perfon,  of  Chrift, 
in  his  prefent  exalted  ftate. 

( I.)  Herein  was  contained  the  golden  cenler,  which  by  an  eafy 
figure  may  reprefent  the  incenfe  therein  offered;  and  that  his  power- 
ful and  acceptable  interceffion  at  God's  right  hand, wherein  he  pleads 
the  atonement  once  offered,  the  memorial  of  which  is  to  God  his 
Father  as  a  fweet  fmclling  favour.     [Eph,  v.  2.      Rev.  viii.  3.] 

(2.)  The  ark  of  the  covenant,  which  has  been  confidered  as  a 
type  of  the  Redeemer,  from  the  incorruptibility  of  its  materials, 
and  the  glory  of  its  ornaments;  thofe  circumftanccs(to  omit  others) 
pointing  to  his  prefent  ftate  of  immortality  and  glory. 

(3.)  The  cover  of  this  ark  was  the  mercy-feat  or  propitiatory, 
v/hich  term  is  cxprefsly  applied  to  Jefus  Chrift,  [Rom.  iii.  2^. — 
I  John  ii.  2.]  becaufe  Jehovah  beheld  the  blood  hereon  fprinkled 
with  fatisfaition  and  favour  to  the  Ifraelitcs.  Thus  the  lamb,  as 
if  it  had  been  flain,  (in  the  language  of  St.  John)  with  the  bloody 
memorial  of  his  facrifice,  appears  continually  in  the  Divi;;e  Pre- 
fence  on  our  behalf.      [Rev.  v.  6.] 

(4.)  To  omit  Aaron's  rod,  the  pot  of  manna,  &c.  as  not  the 
proper  furniture  of  the  ark,  though  therein  depofited :  the  tables  of 
the  law  being  placed  within  the  ark,  has  been  confidered  by  divines 
3s  reprcfenting  the  moral  law  written  in  the  heart  of  the  Redeemer; 

H  h  and 


234        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

mountain  in  the  land  of  Moriah,  [Gen.  xxii.  2.]  which 
mountain  was  called  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  as  this 
mountain  of  the  temple  was,  [Gen.  xxii.  14.]  '  And 
<  Abraham  called  the  name  of  that  place  jehovah-jireh  ; 
'  as  it  is  faid  to  tliis  day,   In  the  mount  of  the  Lord  it  Ihall 

*  be  feen.' 

That  the  human  nature  of  Chrift  was  the  antitype  of 
this  temple,  appears,  becaufe  ChriiT:  being  fliown  the 
temple  of  Jerufalem,  fays,   '  Deftroy  this  temple,  and  in 

*  three  days  I  will  raife  it  up,'  fpeaking  of  the  temple  of 
his  body.  [John  ii.  19,  20.]  This  houfe,  or  an  houfe  built 
in  this  place,  continued  to  be  the  houfe  of  God,  where 
his  church  worlhipped  till  Chrift  came.  Here  was  the 
place  that  God  chofe,  where  all  their  facrifices  were  offer- 
ed up  till  the  great  facritice  came,  and  all  others  ceafed. 
(q^)     Into  this  temple,  or  rather  the  texaiple  afterwards 

built 

and  the  mercy-feat  upon  them,  as  indicating  that  our  tranfgreflions 
of  that  law  are  covered  by  the  true  propitiatory. 

(5. )  The  cherubims,  whether  they  reprefented  the  complacency 
and  fatisfaftion  with  which  the  Deity  beheld  the  blood  of  fprink- 
ling,  or  rather  the  pleafure  and  earneftnefs  with  which  angels  con- 
template the  work  of  redemption,  as  St.  Peter  feems  to  intimate, 
[i  Pet.  i.  12,  gr.]  were  certainly  a  glorious  part  of  the  furniture  of 
the  mod  holy  place;  but  thefe  inquiries  would  lead  us  too  far:  all, 
however,  within  the  vail  reprefented  what  pafled  in  heaven,  when 
our  great  High  Prieft  entered  there  with  his  own  mofl  precious 
blood.      [Heb.  ix.  24.]  [I.  N.] 

(q^)  Sacrifices  offered  till  the  great  sacrifice  came.~\  We  have 
already  fhewn  that  the  facrifices  and  other  ceremonial  inftltutions 
were  typical,  and  mufl  have  been  fo  underltood  by  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment  believers  themfelves  ;  [p.  176,  note  n]  but  fome  who  have 
acknowledged  this,  have  doubted  whether  they  had  any  knowledge 
that  the  Meffiah  was  to  offer  himfelf  a  lacrifice  for  fin.  That  they 
hacl^  we  infer  from  the  following  arguments  : 

1.  That  it  appears  to  have  been  the  current  dodlrine  of  the  Old 
Teftament,  that  without  fiiedding  of  blood  was  no  reraiffion  of  fin. 
The  apoftle  reprefents  it  as  a  very  abfurd  notion,  that  the  blood 
of  bulls  and  goats  could  take  away  fin;  then  what  other  facrlficc 
could  avail  but  human?  And  what  man  but  the  Meffiah  himfelf? 
j^SeeHeb.ix.  throughout.] 

2.  The  prophetic  writings  frequently  introduce  the  Divine  Be- 
ing as  cenfuring  the  legal  facrifices,  and  thofc  who  offered  them; 
— ml-,  as  fome  have  miltakeniy  fuppofed,  as  not  of  his  own  ap- 
pointment, 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        235 

built  in  this  place,  the  Lord  came,  '  even  the  meflenger  of 
'  the  covenant.'  Here  he  often  delivered  his  heavenly 
do6lrine,  and  wrought  miracles ;  here  his  church  was  pa- 
rhered  by  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit,  after  his  afccnfion. 
[Luke  xxiv.  53.]  Speaking  of  the  difciples,  after  Chrift's 
afcenfion,   it  is  faid,    '  And  they  were  continually  in   the 

*  temple,  praifuig  and  bleffing  God.'  And,  [  A61s  ii.  46.] 
fpeaking  of  the  multitude  that  were  converted  by  tliat  great 
out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  that  was  on  the  day  of  Pentecoft, 
it  is  faid,  '  And  they  continued  daily  with  one  accord  in 

*  the  temple.'  Alfo,  [Ads  v.  42.]  fpeaking  of  the  apoftles, 
'  And  daily  in  the  temple,  and  in  every  houfe,  they  ceafed 

*  not  to  teach  and  preach  Jefus  ChrilL'  And  hence  the 
found  of  the  do(?lrine  went  forth,  and  the  church  fpread, 
into  all  the  world. 

13.  It  is  here  worthy  to  be  obferved,  that  at  this  time, 
in  Solomon's  reign,  after  the  temple  was  linifhed,  the  Jew- 
ifli  church  was  raifed  to  its  highefl:  external  glory.  The 
Jewirii  church  (or  the  ordinances  and  conftitution  of  it) 
is  compared  to  the  moon,  [Rev.  xii.  i.]  '  And  there  ap- 
'  peared  a  great  wonder  in  heaven,  a  woman  cloathed  with 

H  h  2  '  the 

pointment,  but  becaiife  the  carnal  Jews  relied  and  confided  in  them 
without  looking  forward  to  their  great  antitype. 

It  is  particularly  foretold,  that  in  the  days  of  the  Mefliah  fome 
more  efficacious  facrifice  fliould  be  offered.  [Pf.  li.  19."!  It  is  in 
other  paffages  cxprefsly  declared  that  he  fliould  fuffer  many  things. 
[See  Luke  xxiv.  26,27,45,46.]  Even  in  the  firft  promife  this 
was  hinted,  the  ferpent  fliould  bruife  his  heel.  The  2  2d  Pfahn 
is  a  clear  and  exprefs  prophecy  of  thefe  fufferings,  which  however 
is  exceeded  by  the  53d  of  Ifaiah,  and  Daniel  ix.  24 — 27.  where 
it  is  exprefsly  added,  that  under  thefe  circumftances  he  fliould  bear 
the  fin  of  many — our  iniquities  fliould  meet  on  him  (as  on  the 
fcape  goat;)  nay,  that  he  fliould  make  his  foul,  (or  himfelf)  an 
offering  for  fin,  [Ifa.  liii.  10.]  yet  that  after  this  he  fliould  fee  his 
feed,  prolong  his  days,  and  the  pleafure  of  the  Lord  fliould  prof- 
per  in  his  hand. 

3.  So  exprefs  arc  thefe  paffages,  that  our  Lord  calls  fome  of 
his  difciples  '  fools,  and  flow  of  heart  to  believe'  the  law  and  the 
prophets,  becaufe  they  did  not  underlland  them;  and  many  of  the 
rnodern  Jews  can  find  no  way  to  account  for  them,  but  by  inven- 
tion of /wo  Mcffiahs ;  the  fon  of  Jofepli  to  faffcr  and  die,  and  the 
foa  of  David  to  yeUrn,  [G.  E.] 


236        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  the  fun,  and  the  moon  under  her  feet,  and  upon  her  head 
'  a  crown  of  twelve  ftars/  As  this  church  was  like  the 
moon  in  many  other  refpe6is,  fo  it  was  in  this,  that  it 
wexed  and  wanned  like  it.  From  the  firft  foundation  of 
it,  in  the  covenant  made  w^ith  Abraham,  when  this  moon 
was  now  beginning  to  appear,  it  had  to  this  time  been 
gradually  increafmg  in  its  glory.  This  time,  wherein  the 
temple  was  finilhed  and  dedicated,  was  about  the  middle 
between  the  calling  of  Abraham  and  the  coming  of 
Chrift,  and  now  it  was  full  moon.  After  this  the  glory 
of  the  JewiOi  church  gradually  decreafed,  till  Chrill 
came ;  as  I  ihail  have  occafion  more  particularly  to  obferve 
prefently. 

Now  the  church  of  Ifrael  was  in  its  higheft  external 
glory  :  Now  Ifrael  was  multiplied  exceedingly,  fo  that 
they  feemed  to  have  become  like  the  fand  on  the  fea  fliore, 
[i  Kings  iv.  20.]  Now  tlie  kingd  )m  of  Ifrael  was  firmly 
eftabliihed  in  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  come : 
Now  God  had  chofen  the  city  where  he  would  place  his 
name  :  Now  God  had  fully  given  his  people  the  poflfef- 
lion  of  the  promifed  land,  in  quietnefs  and  peace,  even 
from  the  river  of  Egypt,  to  the  great  river  Euphrates ; 
and  all  thofe  nations  that  had  formerly  been  their  enemies, 
quietly  fubmitted  to  them  ;  none  pretended  to  rebel  againft 
them:— -Now  ^he  Jewifh  worfhip  in  all  its  ordinances 
■was  fully  fettled:— Now,  inftead  of  a  moveable  tent  and 
tabernacle,  they  had  a  glorious  temple ;  the  moft  magni- 
ficent, beautiful,  and  coftly  ftruclure,  that  then  was, 
ever  had  been,  or  has  been  fince.— -Now  the  people 
enjoyed  peace  and  plenty,  and  fat  every  man  under 
his  vine  and  fig-tree,  eating  and  drinking,  and  making 
merry,  [i  Kings  iv.  20.]— Now  they  were  in  the 
higheft  pitch  of  earthly  profperity,  filver  being  as  plenty 
as  ftones,  and  the  land  full  of  gold  and  precious  ftones, 
and  other  precious  foreign  commodities,  which  were 
brought  by  Solomon's  Ihips  from  Ophir,  and  which  came 
from  other  parts  of  the  world:  Now  they  had  a  king 
reigning  Over  them  who  was  the  Vifeft  of  men,  and  pro- 
bably the  greatell  earthly  prince  tliat  ever  was:  — -Now 

their 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        237 

their  fame  went  abroad  into  all  the  earth,  fo  that  many- 
came  from  the  utmoft  parts  of  the  earth  to  fee  their  glory 
and  their  happinefs. 

Thus  God  was  pleafed,  in  one  of  the  anceftors  of 
Chrift,  remarkably  to  fliadow  forth  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  reigning  in  his  glory.  David,  who  was  the  man  of 
war,  a  man  who  had  flied  much  blood,  and  whofe  life 
was  full  of  troubles  and  confli6ls,  was  more  of  a  rcpre- 
fcntation  of  Chrift  in  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  his  mi- 
litant ftate,  wherein  he  was  conflidling  with  his  enemies. 
But  Solomon,  who  was  a  man  of  peace,  was  a  repre- 
fentation  more  efpecially  of  Chrift  exalted,  triumphing, 
and  reigning  in  his  kingdom  of  peace.  And  the  happy 
glorious  ftate  of  the  Jewilh  church  at  that  time  did  re- 
markably reprefent  two  things ;  i.  That  glorious  ftate  of 
the  church  on  earth,  that  fhall  be  in  the  latter  ages  of 
the  world  ;  thofe  days  of  peace,  when  nation  fhall  not 
lift  fword  againft  nation,  nor  learn  war  any  more.  2. 
The  future  glorified  ftate  of  the  church  in  heaven :  the 
earthly  Canaan  was  never  fo  lively  a  type  of  the  heavenly 
Canaan  as  it  was  then,  when  the  happy  people  of  Ifrael 
did  indeed  enjoy  it  as  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey. 

14.  After  this  the  glory  of  the  Jewifti  church  gradually 
declined  more  and  more  till  Chrift  came  ;  yet  not  fo  but 
that  the  work  of  redemption  ftill  went  on.  Wliatfoever 
failed  or  declined,  God  ftill  carried  on  this  work  from 
age  to  age  ;  this  building  was  ftill  advancing  higher  and 
higher.  It  ftill  went  on  during  the  decline  of  the  Jewiili 
church,  towards  a  further  preparation  for  the  coming  of 
Chrift,  as  well  as  during  its  increafe  ;  for  fo  wonderfully 
were  things  ordered  by  the  infinitely  wife  governor  of  the 
world,  that  whatever  happened  was  ordered  for  good  to 
this  general  defign,  and  made  a  means  of  promoting  it. 
When  the  people  of  the  Jews  flourilhed,  and  were  in  prof- 
perity,  he  made  that  to  contribute  to  the  promoting  this 
defign  ;  and  when  they  were  in  adverfity,  God  made  this 
alfo  to  contribute  to  the  carrying  on  of  the  fame.  While 
the  Jewiili  church  was  in  its  increaling   ftate,  the  work 

of 


238        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

of  redemption  was  carried  on  by  their  increafe  ;  and  when 
they  came  to  their  declining  ftate,  {which  they  were  in 
from  Solomon's  time  till  Chrift:,)  God  carried  on  the 
work  of  redemption  by  that.  Which  decline  itfelf  was 
one  thing  that  God  made  ufe  of  as  a  farther  preparation 
for  Chrifl's  coming. 

As  the  moon,  trom  the  time  of  its  full,  is  approach- 
ing nearer  and  nearer  to  her  conjunction  with  the  fun  ; 
fo  her  light  is  ftill  more  and  more  decreafing,  till  at  length, 
when  the  conjunction  comes,  it  is  wholly  fwallowed  up 
in  the  light  thereof.  So  it  was  with  the  Jewiih  church 
from  the  time  of  its  highefl  glory  in  Solcmon's  time. 
In  the  latter  end  of  Solomon's  reign,  the  ftate  of  things 
began  to  darken,  by  Solomon's  corrupting  himfelf  with 
idolatry,  which  much  obfcured  the  glory  of  this  mighty 
and  wife  prince  ;  now  it  was,  troubles  began  to  arife  in 
his  kingdom  ;  and  after  his  death  it  was  divided,  and  the 
ten  tribes  withdrew  from  the  true  worlhip  of  God,  and 
fet  up  the  golden  calves  at  Bethel  and  Dan.  Prefently 
after  this  the  number  of  the  ten  tribes  was  greatly  dimi- 
niflied  in  the  battle  of  Jeroboam  with  Abijah,  wherein 
there  fell  down  {lain  of  Ifrael  fiye  hundred  thoufand  cho- 
fen  men  ;  which  lofs  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  never  entirely 
recovered. 

Now  alfo  the  kingdom  of  Judah  was  greatly,  corrupted. 
In  Ahab's  time  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  did  not  only  wor- 
fliip  the  calves  of  Bethel  and  Dan,  but  the  worlhip  of 
Baal  was  introduced.  Before,  they  pretended  to  worihip 
the  true  God  by  thefe  images,  the  calves  of  Jeroboam  ; 
but  now  Ahab  introduced  grofs  idolatry,  and  the  diiect 
woriliip  of  falfe  gcds  in  the  room  of  the   true  God  ;  (r) 

and 

(r)  Many  learned  men  have  conjcftured  (as  perhaps  our  au- 
thor) that  the  goldeu  calves  originated  from  the  cherubic  figures, 
one  animal  in  which  was  a  calf  or  young  bull  ;  fome  liave  even 
fuppofed,  that  this  part  of  the  Egyptian  idolatry  fprang  from  the 
fame  fource  ;  and  that  at  firft  they  were-  only  ufed  as  the  medium 
of  worfhip  and  emblems  of  the  Deity  :  [Stackhoufe,  Book  vi.  ch. 
I.]  But  as  the  nature  of  fin  is  progrellivc,  fo  one  degree  of  ido- 
latry leads  to  another ;  and  when  men  once  conceived  the  Deity 
tx)  refemble  calves,  it  was  but  one  ftcp  farther  to  worfhip  thefc 
calves  themfelvcs. 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.        239 

and  foon  after  the  worfliip  of  Baal  was  introduced  into  the 
kingdom  of  Judah,  viz.  in  Jehoram's  reign,  by  his  mar- 
rying Athaliah,  the  daughter  of  Ahab.  After  this  God 
began  to  cut  Ifrael  ihort,  by  finally  deftroying  and  fending; 
into  captivity  that  part  of  the  people  that  dwelt  beyond 
Jordan.  [2  Kings  x.  32,  &c.]  And  then  Tiglath-Pilezer 
fubdued  and  captivated  all  tliofe  of  the  northern  parts  of 
the  land;  [2  Kings  xv,  29.]  at  laft  all  the  ten  tribes  were 
fubdued  by  Salmanefer,  and  finally  carried  captive  out  of 
their  own  land.  After  this  alfo  the  kingdom  of  Judah  was 
carried  captive  into  Babylon,  and  a  great  part  of  the  nation 
never  returned.  Thofe  that  returned  were  but  a  fmall 
nuunber,  compared  with  what  had  been  carried  captive  ; 
and  for  the  mofi:  part  after  this  they  were  dependent  on 
the  power  of  other  ftates,  being  fubje6l  one  while  to  the 
kings  of  Perfia,  then  to  the  monarchy  of  the  Grecians, 
afterwards  to  the  Romans.  And  before  Chrift's  tim.e, 
the  church  of  the  Jews  was  become  exceeding  corrupt, 
over-run  with  fuperftition  and  felf-righteoufnefs.  How 
Imall  a  flock  was  the  church  of  Chrill:  in  the  days  of  his 
incarnation  ! 

God,  by  his  gradual  decline  of  the  Jewifn  ftate  and 
church  from  Solomon's  time,  prepared  the  way  for  the 
coming  of  Chrifl  fevcral  ways. 

(i.)  The  decline  of  the  glory  of  this  legal  difpenfa- 
tion  made  way  for  the  introdudion  of  the  more  glorious 
difpenfation  of  the  gofpel.  The  ancient  difpenfarion, 
fuch  as  it  was  in  Solomon's  time,  had  no  glorv,  when 
compared  with  the  fpiritual  difpenfation  introduced  by 
Chrifl.  The  church,  under  the  Old  Teftament,  was  a 
child  under  tutors  and  governors,  and  God  dealt  with  it 
as  a  child.  Thofe  pompous  externals  are  called  by  the 
aportle,  weak  and  beggarly  elements.  It  was  fit  that  thofe 
things  fhould  be  diminiflied  as  Chrifl  approached ;  as 
John  the  Baptid,  his  forerunner,  fpeaking  of  him  fays, 
'  He  mufl:  increafe,  but  I  muft  decreafe.'  [John  iii.  30.] 
It  is  fit  that  the  twinkling  fiars  fliould  gradually  with- 
<lraw  their  glory,  when  the  fun  is  approaching  tov/ardj; 
hjs  I'^fing. 

{2.)   This 


240        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTIOl^. 

(2.)  This  gradual  decline  alfo  tended  to  prepare  for 
Chrift's  coming,  as  it  difplayed  the  glory  of  God's  power, 
in  the  great  effed:s  of  his  redemption.  God's  people  being 
fo  diminifhed  and  weakened  by  one  ftep  after  another,  till 
Chrift  came,  was  very  much  like  the  diminilhing  Gideon's 
army.  •  God  told  Gideon,  that  the  people  that  was  with 
him,  was  too  many  for  him  to  deliver  the  Midianites  into 
their  hands,  left  Ifrael  Ihould  vaunt  themfelves  againft  him, 
faying,  '  My  own  hand  hath  faved  me.'  And  therefore 
all  that  were  fearful  were  commanded  to  return  ;  and  there 
returned  twenty  and  two  thoufand,  and  there  remained  ten 
thoufand.  But  ftill  they  were  too  many  ;  and  then,  by 
trying  the  people  at  the  water,  tliey  were  reduced  to  three 
hundred  men.  So  the  people  in  Solomon's  time  were 
too  many,  and  mighty,  and  glorious  for  Chrift  ;  there- 
fore he  diminilhed  them  ;  firft,  by  fending  off  the  ten 
tribes,  and  then  by  the  captivity  into  Babylon  ;  afterward 
they  were  farther  diminifhed  by  the  great  and  general 
corruption  that  there  was  when  Chrift  came ;  fo  that 
Chrift  found  very  few  godly  perfons  among  them  :  and 
with  a  fmall  handful  of  difciples,  he  conquered  the  world. 
Thus  high  things  were  brought  down,  that  Chrift  might 
be  exalted. 

(3.)  This  prepared  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming,  as  it 
made  the  falvation  of  thofe  jews  that  were  faved  by  him 
more  confpicuous  :  though  the  greater  part  of  the  nation 
of  the  Jews  was  rejedied,  and  the  Gentiles  called  in  dicir 
room,  yet  there  were  a  great  many  thoufands  of  the  Jews 
that  were  faved  by  Chrift  after  his  refurre6lion.  [A6ts 
xxi.  20.]  They  being  taken  from  fo  low  a  ftate  under 
temporal  calamity  in  their  bondage  to  the  Romans,  and 
from  a  ftate  of  great  fuperfiition  and  wickednefs,  it  made 
their  redemption  the  more  viHbly  glorious. 

I  have  taken  notice  of  this  difpenfation  of  Providence 
in  the  gradual  decline  of  the  Jewifh  church  in  this  place, 
becaufe  it  beG:an  in  the  reirn  of  Solomon. 

15.  I  would  here  take  notice  of  the  additions  that  were 
made  to  the  canon  of  Scripture  in  or  foon  after  the  reign 
of  Solomon  ;   fome  of  them    by    Solomon   himfelf,  who 

wrote 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY,        241 

Wrote  the  books  of  Proverbs  and  Ecclefiaftes,  probably 
near  the  clofe  of  his  reign.  But  his  writing  the  Song  of 
Songs,  as  it  is  called,  is  what  is  efpccially  here  to  be  ta- 
ken notice  of,  which  is  wholly  on  the  fubje6l  that  we 
are  upon,  viz.  Chrifl:  and  liis  redemption,  rcprefenting 
the  high  and  glorious  relation,  union,  and  love,  which  is 
between  Chrift  and  his  redeemed  church,   (s)     And  the 

hiftory 

(s)  TZi^  SONG  o/'soNGS  lurttten  by  Solomon.']  As  many  ferious 
minds  have  doubted  the  divine  authority  of  this  book,  and  fome 
critics  and  divines  have  too  haftily  given  it  up,  we  prefume  it  may- 
be an  acceptable  fervice  to  our  readers,  in  as  concife  a  manner  a« 
poflible,  to  colleft  the  evidences  In  its  favour  : 

1.  That  Solomon  compofed  many  fongs  or  poems  is  certain, 
[i  Kings  iv.  32.]  and  fince  the  title  of  this  book  (which  is  con- 
feffedly  very  ancient)  afcribes  it  to  him,  it  feems  very  eafy  to  be- 
lieve, that  as  the  book  of  Proverbs  was  compiled  from  his  wife 
faylngs,  this  book  might  be  preferved  as  the  raoft  excellent  of  his 
fongs.  To  Solomon,  therefore.  It  has  conftantly  been  referred, 
and  fo  far  have  Its  enemies  generally  been  from  denying  it,  that 
this  circumflance  has  been  made  a  principal  argument  againfl:  Its 
authority.  This  opinion  is  very  much  ftrengthencd  from  feveral 
pafTages  in  the  Song  Itfelf;   [Chap.  HI.  ii.]   '  Go  forth,  and  be- 

*  hold  King  Solomon  ;' — [vHI.  i2.~\    '  My  vineyard  is  before  thee, 

*  O  Solomon  !'  Alfo  feveral  of  the  comparifons  ufed,  as  th«  tent 
curtains  of  Solomon,  and  Pharaoh's  chariot  horfcs,  would  hardlv 
have  been  ufed  by  a  later  author. 

2.  Should  it  be  aflced,  at  what  period  of  his  life  Solomon  wrote 
it  ?  If  we  may  form  any  judgment  from  tlie  ftile  and  Images  made 
ufe  of,  it  was  moft  probably  In  the  early  part  of  It,  before  his 
heart  was  drawn  afide  from  virtue  and  religion  ;  fo  mod  Chrllllan 
and  many  Jewlfh  v/rlters  ;  for  that  it  was  not  written  during  the 
time  of  his  apoftafy,  Is  clear 

From,  3.  Its  early  admlfTion  Into  the  Jewlfh  canon,  and  the  con- 
ftant  veneration  It  has  received  in  the  Chrilllan  church.  Among 
the  Hebrews  it  was  ranked  In  the  fame  clafs  with  Daniel  and  Eze- 
kiel,  and  forbid  to  be  read  by  their  young  men  till  they  arrived 
at  matuie  age,  on  account  of  Its  myllerlous  contents.  [Preface 
to  Patricks  Paraph.]  'Jofephus,  though  he  does  not  diitinctlv 
name  the  facred  books,  enumerates  them  in  fuch  a  manner  as  may 
be  fairly  fuppofed  to  Include  this.  And  in  the  Chrlftlan  church. 
Melito,  Bp.  of  Sardis,  exprcfsly  mentions  It  as  early  as  A.  D.  160. 
[Bp.  Cojms'  Sclioolaftic  Hlft.  p.  15  and  32.] 

4.  Another  argument  In  favour  of  this  book  may  be  derjvcu 
from  comparing  it  with  other  paflages  of  fcripturc.  pa'^ticularjy 

I  I  Pfalm 


242        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

hiftorv  of  rhe  fcriptures  feems,  in  Solomon's  reign,  and 
fome  of  the  next  fucceeding  ones,  to  have  been  increafed 

by 

Pfalm  slv.  and  Ifa.  V.  i,  Sec.  where  many  of  the  fame  images  are 
applied  to  divine  objeifts  ;  and  if  David  was  the  author  of  the  for- 
mer, as  is  extremely  likely,  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed  that  his  fon 
would  have  taken  the  fame  figures,  and  bmlefqued  the  piety  of  his 
father  by  applying  them  to  the  object  of  a  carnal  love. 

5.  It  has  indeed  been  alledged,  that  the  name  of  God  does 
not  occur  in  this  book — that  the  name  of  David  is  differently 
fpelt  in  the  Hebrew  from  what  it  Is  in  other  books  written  prior 
to  the  captivity — that  it  contains  no  precepts  of  pietv  or  religion 
— that  its  ilile  is  loofe  and  immodeft,  and  that  it  is  neither  quoted 
nor  referred  to  by  any  other  of  the  facred  writers. — The  two  firft 
have  been  ftiewn  to  be  founded  on  miftake.  [Find/i:y's  Vind.  of 
the  Sac.  Books,  p.  452,  and  the  Hebrew  of  cap.  viii.  6.]  If  the 
book  be  aJlegoncal,  as  we  fhtdl  endeavour  to  Ihew,  it  muft  con- 
fequently  be  fidl  of  piety  and  religion.  The  ftile  of  the  original 
has  been  proved  to  be  perfeclly  modeft  and  delicate,  [Jirickaelis's 
Notes  on  Lowth's  Proeledl.  p.  160.]  as  well  as  elegant  and  beau- 
tiful, [fee  New  Tranflation,  8vo.  1764.]  and  if  fo  much  cannot 
be  faid  for  our  verfion,  fome  apology  mav  at  leaft  be  made  for 
the  time  in  which  it  was  made. —  As  to  the  laft  objeftion,  our 
difficulty  arifcs  from  the  number  of  parallel  phrafes  ufed  in  both 
the  Old  and  New  Teft am.ent,  which  makes  it  not  eafy  to  afcertain, 
whether  the  texts  in  queftion  be  or  be  not  quotations  of  this  book  ; 

.   this  very   objection,  however,  forms  a  powerful  argument  in  its 
favour. 

6.  A  modem  Jew,  of  confiderable  learning  and  ingenuity,  has 
given  hib  opinion  of  the  book  as  follows  :   "  This  peem  is  an  entire 

allegory,  as  Aben  Ezra  obferves It  commence's,  according 

to  his  opinion,  at  the  time  of  Abraham,  and  extends  to  the  times 
of  the  Mcffiah  j  and  which  defcribes  (if  I  may  be  allowed  the  ex- 

preffion)  the  conjugal  union  of  God  with  the  Jewi/h  church 

This  is  the  folemn  compact  fo  frequently  celebrated  by  almoft  all 
the  Jewiih  writers  under  the  fame  image."  [Z^-i's  Diet,  in  CDTw'.] 
The  fenlim.ents  of  the  other  Jewifli  Rabbins  correfpondent  here- 
with may  be  feen  in  the  Preface  to  FatricPs  Paraphiafe.  {^Gill's 
Comment,  and  Poli  Syn.  Crit.] 

It  would  be  leading  us  too  far  to  review  the  fentlments  of  Chrif- 
tian  espoiltors — in  the  general  they  are  agreed,  that  this  Song 
expreflcs  the  fubllrr.e  and  fpiritual  love,  which  fubfifts  between  the 
Redeemer  and  his  church,  and  though  we  have  not  been  tho- 
roughly pleafed  with  any  of  the  allegorical  commentaries  we  have 
feen,  it  is  hoped,  the  hints  given  by  *Bp.  Lo'wth,  ProfcfTor  Mi- 
chaelis,  Mr.  Harmer,  and  the  author  of  the  New  Tranflation,  on 
the  one  Land  ;  and  Ep.  Patrick,  Dr.  GiU^  and  Mr.  Henry,  on  the 
ether,  may  feme  day  produce  this  defideratum.  [G.  E.j 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.         2x5 

bv  the  propheti  Nsdian,  Ahijsh,  Sbemaiah,  and  Iddo.  Ic 
is  probable  rhat  part  of  the  hiftonr  which  wc  have  in  the 
firil  of  Kings  was  wrirren  br  them,  bj  what  is  laid  2  Chron. 
ix.  29. — xii.  15. — xiii.  22. 

16.  God*s  upholding  his  church  and  religion  through 
this  period  was  tmlv  wonderfbl,  confidering  the  pronenefe 
of  that  people  to  idolatry.  When  the  ten  tribes  hid  jeae- 
rally  and  finally  forfaken  the  worlhip  of  God,  he  kept  up 
the  true  religion  in  the  kingdom  of  Jodah  ;  and  when  tkrt 
corrupted  themfelves,  as  they  very  often  did  exceedinglv, 
and  idolarrv  was  ready  totally  to  extinguith  ir^  yet  God 
kept  the  lamp  alirc,  and  was  often  pleafed  when  things 
feeoied  to  be  come  to  an  extremiry,  and  religion  ar  irs 
lall  gafp,  to  grant  bleSed  revirals  hs  remarkable  oat -pour- 
ings of  his  Spirit,  particularly  in  Kezekiah  and  Joilah's 
time- 
ly. God  kept  the  book  of  the  la^  from  being  loft  in 
times  of  ^neral  and  lon^  c^ncianednesiect  cf,  and  en.—  ::- 
againft  it.  The  moit  remarkable  inflance  of  this  kind  ■•  ;i: 
the  preferration  of  the  book  of  the  law  in  die  time  ot  the 
long  apolrafv  of  ManaGah,  and  then  afrerwards  in  me 
reign  of  Ames  his  {zx\..  Thus  while  the  book  of  the  larv 
was  fb  much  neglected,  and  fuch  a  carelefs  2nd  prc^aae 
mznagement '  of  the  aSairs  of  the  temple  prevailed,  that 
the  cppv  of  the  bw,  which  ufed  to  be  laid  up  by  the  fide 
of  the  ark  *in  the  Hoi  v  of  Holies,  was  loft  for  a  long  time  ; 
no  bodv  knew  where  it  was.  But  vet  God  prelerved  it 
from  being  finallv  fo.  In  Jollah's  time,  when  diey  came 
to  repair  the  temple,  it  was  found  buried  in  rubbidi,  afeer 
ir  had  been  loit  fo  long  tiiar  Joiiah  himielf  feems  to  have 
been  much  a  ftran^er  to  it  till  now.     \i  Kings  xxii.  S, 

&C.]    (T)  ■  '  ^     . 

iS-  Go£-> 

(t)  Tci  ioei  cf  tin  ^-3  i:j^'j  The  cnesdes  of  rCTdatioa 
would  be  gUd  to  prove,  and  icwne  of  then  hsxe  attempted  it, 
that  the  book  -  "  '  -s^s  die  coly  remaiaing  copy  of  the  law, 
and  have  evea  1  -.  that  this  tnijht  be  in  great  zicifare 

fabricated  by  the  rrieis.  But  the  ihcrec  hlftonan  gives  no  gnKmd 
for  fuch  fufpicic" "  :    "  '.  fippcaag  that  niaay  ccpies  might  have 


34+  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

1 8.  God's  preferving  the  tribe  of  which  Chrift  was  to 
proceed,  from  being  ruined  through  the  many  and  great 
dangers  of  this  period.  The  vifible  church  of  Chrift  from 
Solomon's  reign  was  chiefly  in  the  ten  tribes  of  Judah, 
The  tribe  of  Benjamin,  which  was  annexed  to  tliem,  was 
but  very  fmall,  and  that  of  Judah  exceeding  large  ;  as 
Judah  took  Benjamin  under  his  covert  when  be  went  into 
Egypt  to  bring  corn,  fo  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  feemed 
to  be  under  the  covert  of  Judah  ever  after  :  and  though, 
on  occaficn  of  Jeroboam's  fetting  up  the  calves  at  Bethel 
and  Dan,  the  Levites  reforted  to  Judah  out  of  all  the  tribes 
of  Ifrael,  [2  Chron.  xi,  13.]  ;  yet  they  were  alfo  fmall, 
and  not  reckoned  among  the  tribes  ;  and  though  many 
of  the  ten  tribes  did  alfo  on  that  occafion,  for  the  fake 
of  the  worfhip  of  God  in  the  temple,  leave  their  inhe- 
ritances in  their  feveral  tribes,  and  removed  and  fettled 
in  Judah,  and  fo  were  incorporated  with  them,  as  [2 
Chron.  xi.  16.]  yet  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  fo  much  the 
prevailing  part,  that  they  were  all  called  by  one  name, 
they  were  called  Judah  ;  therefore  God  faid  to  Solomon, 
[  1  Kings  xi.  13.]  '  I  will  not  rend  away  all  the  kingdom  ; 
*  but  will  give  one  tribe  to  thy  fon,  for  David  my  fer- 
'  vant's  fake  and  for  Jerufalem's  fake,  which  I  have  cho- 
'  fen  ;'  [alfo  ver.  32,  36.]  So  when  the  ten  tribes  were 
carried  captive,  it  is  faid,  there  was  none  left  but  the  tribe 
of  Judah  only  :  [2  Kings  xvii.  18.]  Whence  they  were 
called  Jev/s. 

This  was  the  tribe  of  whicli  Chrill:  was  to  come  :  and 
of  this  chiefly  did  God's  vifible  churcii  confifl:,  from  So- 
lomon's 


been  deftroyed  or  loft  in  the  preceding  apoftafy,  yet  the  Lord  al- 
ways referved  himfelf  a  people  to  whom  his  word  was  precious, 
and  who  would  never  part  from  it,  but  with  their  lives.  The  fail 
here  feems  to  be,  that  the  ftudy  of  the  Bible  had  been  miferably 
neglefted ;  and  that  the  king  who  was  commanded  to  write  out  a 
copy  himfelf,  [Deut.  xvii.  18.]  had  been  brought  up  in  ignorance 
of  it — that  the  copy  now  found  was  a  very  ancient  and  valuable 
manufcript — perhaps,  (as  the  Hebrew  phrafe  Is,  in  or  by  the  hand 
of  Mo/ls)  the  very  original  iX.{tAi — the  difcovery  of  which  might 
well  be  fuppofed  to  occafion  great  jov  among  them.  [2  Chron, 
xxxiv.  14.]     [See  G/7/'s  Comment.]  [U.  S.J 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY,        24.5 

lomon's  time :  this  was  the  people  over  whom  the  Kings 
which  were  legal  anceftors  of  Chrift,  and  of  the  houfe 
of  David,  reigned.  The  people  were  wonderfully  prc- 
ferved  from  defl:ru6tion  during  this  period,  when  they 
often  feemed  to  be  upon  the  brink  of  it,  and  jufl  ready  to 
be  fwallowed  up.  So  it  was  in  Rehoboam's  time,  when 
Shilhak,  king  of  Egypt,  came  againft  Judah  with  fuch  ^ 
vaft  force ;  yet  then  God  manifeftly  preferved  them  from 
being  deftroyed.  [2  Chron.  xii.  2,  &c.]  So  again  in 
Abijali's  time,  when  Jeroboam  fet  the  battle  in  array 
againft  him  with  eight  hundred  thoufand  chofen  men  ; 
a  mighty  army  indeed  I  [2  Chron.  xiii.  3.]  Then  God 
wrought  deliverances  to  Judah,  out  of  regard  to  the  co- 
venant of  grace  cflablilhed  witli  David,  as  is  evident  by 
ver.  4,  5  ;  and  the  vi6tory  they  obtained  was  becaufe 
the  Lord  was  on  their  fide,  [ver.  12.]  Again  in  Afa's 
time,  when  Zerah  the  Ethiopian  came  againft  him  with 
a  yet  larger  army  of  a  thoufand  thoufand  and  three  hun- 
dred cliariots.  [2  Chron.  xiv.  9.]  On  this  occalion  Afa 
cried  to  the  Lord  and  trufted  in  him  ;  being  fenfible  that 
it  was  nothing  with  him  to  help  thofe  that  had  no  povi'er: 
[ver.  II.]  '  And  Afa  cried  unto  the  Lord  his  God,  and 
^  faid,  Lord,  it  is  nothing  with  thee  to  help,  whether 
'  witii  many,  or  with  thofe  that  have  no  power.'  And 
accordingly  God  gave  them  a  glorious  vi6lory  over  this 
mighty  hoft. 

So  again  it  was  in  Jehofhaphat's  time,  Avhen  the  chiL 
dren  of  Moab,  of  Ammon,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Mount 
Seir,  combined  together  againft  Judah,  with  a  mighty 
army,  a  force  vaftly  fuperior  to  any  that  Jehofliaphat 
could  raife  ;  who,  with  his  people,  was  greatly  afraid; 
yet  they  fet  themfelves  to  feek  God  on  this  occahon ; 
trufted  in  him,  and  were  told  by  one  of  his  prophets,  that 
they  need  not  fear,  nor  Ihould  they  have  any  occafton  to 
fight  in  this  battle,  but  only  to  ftand  ftill  and  fee  the  fal- 
vation  of  the  Lord.  Accordingly  they  only  ftood  ftill, 
and  fang  praifes  to  God,  who  made  their  enemies  do  the 
work  themfelves,  by  killing  one  another ;  while  the 
children  of   Judah  had  nothing  to  do,    bat  to  gather  the 

Ipoil, 


246        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fpoll,  which  was  more  than  they  could  carry   away.     [2 
Chron.  XX.] 

So  it  was  in  Ahaz's  time,  of  which  we  have  fpoken  al- 
ready. Again  in  Hezekiah's,  when  Sennacherib,  king  of 
Aflyria,  the  greateft  monarchy  that  was  then  in  the  world, 
came  up  againfl:  all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah,  after  he 
had  conquered  moft  of  the  neighbouring  countries,  and 
fent  Rabfhakeh,  the  captain  of  his  hoft,  againiT:  Jerufa- 
lem,  who  in  a  very  proud  and  fcornful  manner  infulted 
Hezekiah  and  his  people,  as  being  fure  of  vi6lory;  and 
the  people  were  trembling  for  fear,  like  lambs  before  a 
lion.  Then  God  fent  Ifaiah  the  prophet  to  comfort  them, 
and  affure  them  that  they  Ihould  not  prevail  ;  as  a  token 
of  which  he  gave  them  this  fign,  viz.  that  the  earth,  for 
two  years  fucceffively,  fhould  bring  forth  food  of  itfelf, 
from  the  roots  of  the  old  ftalks,  without  their  plowing  or 
fowing  ;  and  then  the  third  year  they  fhould  fow  and  reap, 
and  plant  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them,  and  live 
on  the  fruits  of  their  labours,  as  they  were  wont  to  do 
before.  [See  2  Kings  xix.  29.]  This  is  mentioned  as 
a  type  of  what  is  promifed  in  verfes  30,  31.     '   And  the 

*  remnant  that  is  elcaped  of  the  houle  of   Judah,    fliall 
'   yet  again  take  root  downward,  and  bear  fruit  upward. 

*  For  out  of  Jerufalem  (hall  go  forth  a  remnant,  and  they 
'  that  efcape  out  of  Mount  Zion :    the  zeal  of  the  Lord 

*  of  horts  fliall  do  this.'  The  corn's  fpringing  again  pfter 
it  had  been  cut  olf  with  the  fickle,  and  bringing  forth 
another  crop  from  roots  that  feemed  to  be  dead,  reprefents 
the  church's  reviving  again,  as  it  were  out  of  its  own 
afhes,  and  flourifliing  like  a  plant  after  it  had  been  cut 
down  feemingly  paft  recovery.  When  the  enemies  of  the 
church  have  done  their  utmoft,  and  feemed  to  have  gained  ^ 
their  point,  and  to  have  overthrown  the  church,  fo  that 
the  being  of  it  is  fcarcely  viiiblc,  yet  there  is  a  fecret  lite 
in  it  that  will  caufe  it  to  flouriih  again,  and  to  take  root 
downward,  and  bear  fruit  upward.  .  This  was  now  fultil- 
led  ;  for  the  king  of  Aflyria  had  .already  taken  and  car- 
ried captive  the  ten  tribes ;  and  Sennacherib  had  alfo  ta- 
Icen  all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah,  and  ranged  the  country 

round 


FROM  DAVID  TO  THE  CAPTIVITY.         247 

round  about ;  Jerufalem  only  remained,  and  Rabfliakeh 
had  in  his  own  imagination  already  fwallowed  that  up  ;  as 
he  had  alfo  in  the  fearful  apprehenfions  of  the  Jews  them- 
felves.  But  God  wrought  a  wonderful  deliverance.  He 
fent  an  angel,  that  in  one  night  fmote  an  hundred  fourfcore 
and  five  thoufand  in  the  enemy's  camp, 

19.  In  the  reign  of  Uzziah,  and  the  following  reigns, 
God  was  pleafed  to  raife  up  a  fet  of  eminent  prophets, 
who  fhould  commit  their  prophecies  to  writing,  and  leave 
them  for  the  ufe  of  his  church  in  all  ages.  We  before 
obferved,  that  God  began  a  fucceffion  of  prophets  in  If- 
rael  in  Samuel's  time  ;  but  none  of  them  are  fuppofed  to 
have  written  books  of  prophecies  till  now.  Several  of 
them  indeed  wrote  hiftories  of  the  wonderful  difpenfa- 
tions  of  God  towards  his  church,  as  we  have  oblerved 
already  of  Samuel,  Nathan,  and  Gad,  Ahijah,  and  Iddo. 
The  hillory  of  Ifrael  feems  to  have  been  farther  carried 
on  by  Iddo  and  Shcmaiah  :  [2  Chronicles  xii.  15.] 
'  Now  the  a6ts  of  Rehoboam,  firft  and  laft,  are  they  not 
'  written  in  the  book  of  Sliemaiali  the  prophet,  and  Iddo 
'  the  leer,  concerning  genealogies  r'  And  after  that  [2 
Chron.  XX.  34.]  '  Jehu  the  fon  of  Hanani,  who  is  men- 
'  tioned  in  the  book  of  the  kings  of  Ifrael.'  [See  i  Kings 
xvi.  1—7.]  And  then  it  was  continued  by  the  prophet 
Ifaiah:  [2  Chronicles  xxvi.  22.]  '  Now  the  refl  of  tlie 
'  a6ls  of  Uzziah,  lirlt  and  laft,  did  Ifaiah  the  prophet,  the 
'  ion  of  Amos,  write.'  He  probably  did  it  as  well  in 
the  fecond  book  of  Kings,  as  in  the  book  of  his  pro- 
phecy. And  the  hiltory  was  carried  on  and  finiihed  by 
other  prophets  after  him.  But  now  did  God  tirft  raife 
up  a  fet  of  great  prophets,  not  only  to  write  hillories,  but 
prophecies.  The  tirfl:  of  thefe  is  thought  to  be  Hofea 
the  fon  of  Beeri,  and  therefore  his  prophecy,  the  word  of 
the  Lord  by  him,  is  called  [Hofea  i.  2.]  *  The  beginning 
'  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  by  H.fca  ;'  that  is,  the  flrfl 
part  of  the  written  word  of  that  kind.  He  prophefied 
in  the  days  of  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Ahaz,  and  Hezckiah, 
kings  of  Judah,  and  in  tlie  davs  of  Jeroboam,  the  fon  of 

Joaih, 


248      HISTORY  o:f  redemption. 

Joafh,  king  of  Ifrael.  There  were  many  other  wltnefTes^ 
for  God  raifed  up  about  this  time,  to  commit  their  pro- 
phecies to  writing,  viz.  Ifaiah,  Amos,  Jonah,  Micah, 
Nahum,  and  probably  fome  others ;  and  fo  from  that 
time  forward  God  continued  a  fucceffion  of  zvrhing  pro- 
phets. 

This  was  a  great  advance  in  the  affair  of  redemption, 
as  will  appear,  if  we  confider  that  the  main  bufmefs  of 
the  prophets  was  to  point  out  Chrifl:  and  his  redemption. 
The  great  end  of  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  being  given  them 
■was,  that  they  might  give  teftimony  to  Jefus  Chrift, 
[Rev.  xix.  10.]  '  For  the  teftimony  of  Jefus  is  the  Spirit 
*  of  prophecy.'  And  therefore  we  find,  that  the  main 
thing  that  moft  of  the  prophets  in  their  writings  infift 
upon,  is,  Chrift  and  his  redemption,  and  the  glorious 
times  of  the  gofpel,  which  ihould  be  in  the  latter  days ; 
and  though  many  other  things  were  fpokcn  of  by  them, 
yet  they  feem  to  be  only  introdu6lory  to  their  prophecy  of 
thefe  things.  Whatever  they  predidl,  here  their  prophecies 
commonly  terminate. 

Thefe  prophets  wrote  chiefly  to  prepare  the  way  for 
the  coming  of  Chrift,  and  the  glory  that  fhould  follow. 
And  in  what  an  exalted  ftrain  do  they  all  fpeak  of  thofe 
things  !  Other  things  they  fpeak  of  as  other  men.  But 
when  they  come  upon  this  fubje6l,  what  a  heavenly  fub- 
limity  is  there  in  their  language  !  Some  of  them  are  very 
particular  and  full  in  their  predidlions  of  thefe  things, 
and  above  all,  the  prophet  Ifniah,  (who  is  therefore  dc- 
fervediy  called  the  evangelical  prophet)  feems  to  teach  the 
glorious  dotSlrine  of  the  gofpel  almoft  as  plainly  as  the 
apoftles,  who  preached  after  Chrift  was  adtually  come. 
The  apoftle  Paul  therefore  takes  notice,  that  the  prophet 
Efaias  is  very  bold,  [Rom.  x.  20.]  i.  e.  as  the  word  is  ufed 
in  the  New  Teftament,  very  plain,  fo  [2  Cor.  iii.  12.] 
'  we  ufe  great  plainnefs  of  fpeech,'  l.  e.  '  boldnefs,'  ns 
in  the  margin.  How  plainly  and  fully  does  the  prophet 
Ifaiah  defcribe  the  manner  and  circumftances,  the  natuie 
and  end,  of  the  fufFerings  and  faci'iiicc  of  Chrift,  in  the 

liiid. 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        257 

•,fea,  and  the  dry  land  ;  and  I  will  fhake  all  nations,  and 

*  the  defire  of  all   nations  ifhall  come,  and  I   will  fill  this 

*  houfe  with  glory,  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts.'  [See  alfo  ver. 
21 — 23.]  It  is  evident  by  this,  that  thefe  commotions, 
whereby  the  thrones  of  kingdoms  and  armies  were  over- 
thrown, and  every  one  came  down  by  the  fword  of  his 
brother,  were  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  coming  of  him 
who  is  '  the  defire  of  all  nations.'   (x) 

The  great  changes  and  troubles  that  have  fometimes 
been  in  the  vifible  church  of  Chrift,  are  [in  Rev.  xii.  2.] 
compared  to  the  church's  being  in  travail  to  bring  forth 
Chrill:  :  fo  thefe  great  troubles  and  mighty  revolutions 
before  Chrift:  was  born,  were,  as  it  were,  the  world's 
being  in  travail   to   brmg  forth    the   Son  of  God.     The 

L  I  apoftle, 

(x)  77'^  DESIRE  of  aUnaUons.~\  That  this  prophecy  refpefled 
the  Meffiah,  we  have  the  clearelt  proof  by  comparing  this  text 
with  Mai.  iii.  1,2.  where  '  the  deiire  of  all  nations'  is  explained 
of  '  the  Lord  whom  ye  (Jews)  feek,  even  the  meflenger   (or  an- 

*  gel)  of  the  covenant.'  And  the  houfe  to  be  filled  with  glory 
is  called  the  temple ;  nor  can  the  Jews  in  their  prefent  ftate  of 
apollafy  any  way  account  (as  will  be  hereafter  fhewn)  for  the 
glory  of  the  latter  temple  being  faid  to  exceed  that  of  the  former, 
namely,  Solomon's.  But  why  is  Chrill  called  '  \\\t  deftn  of  all 
'  nations  :'  Were  tbey  indeed  fcnfible  of  their  guilt  and  mifery^ 
and  ready  to  embrace  the  Saviour?  Alas!  no.  But  they  all 
groaned  beneath  the  weight  of  temporal  calamity — they  were  op- 
prefTed  with  tyranny  and  fupeiftition  ;  they  had  alfo  ioxat  gencrtt^ 
expe(Station  of  a  great  dehverer,  which  they  had  gathered  from 
tradition,  and  fome  partial  knowledge  of  revelation.— Thus  far 
they  were  prepared  for  his  coming ;  and  as  Chrill  came  to  deliver 
them  eventually  from  thefe  evils,  as  well  as  others  of  which  they 
had  little  conception,  he  might  well  be  called  '  the  defire  of  all 
'  nations.'  Farther,  he  might  well  be  fo  called,  as  uniting  in 
his  perfon  every  attribute  and  excellence  worthy  the  eilecm  and 
veneration  of  mankind.  Riches,  honour,  peace,  and  whatever 
we  call  good  and  great,  if  they  have  any  lullre,  derive  it  frum 
him  ;  and  in  him,  as  the  grand  focus  of  eveiy  ray  of  blefiednefs 
which  the  Deity  has  emitted,  they  all  unite  and  complete  their 
glory  :  '  It  pleafed  the  Father,  that  in  him  fliould  all  fuUnefs 
'  dwell.' 

This  prophecy  has  been  ably  defended  againft  the  objections, 
and  fupported  by  the  conceffions  of  Jewifh  writers,  as  well  as 
other  arguments,  by  the  late  Dr.  Onvin  on  the  Hebrews,  vol.  i. 
Exercit.  13.  [N.  U.] 


258        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

apoflle,  in  the  viiith.  of  Romans,  reprefents  the  whole 
creation  as  groaning  and  travailing  In  pain  together  until 
now,  to  bring  forth  the  liberty  and  manifeftation  of  the 
children  of  God.  Thereto  the  world  being  fo  long  a  time 
kept  in  a  (late  of  war  and  bloodfhed,  prepared  the  way  for 
the  coming  of  the  Prince  of  peace,  as  it  ihowed  the  great 
need  the  world  flood  in  of  fuch  a  prince. 

It  pleafed  God  to  order  it  in  his  providence,  that 
earthly  power  and  dominion  fliould  be  raifed  to  its  great- 
ell:  height,  and  appear  in  its  utmofb  glory,  In  thofe  four 
great  monarchies  that  fucceeded  one  another,  and  that 
every  one  fhould  be  greater  and  more  glorious  than  the 
preceding,  before  he  fet  up  the  kingdom  of  his  Son. 
By  this  it  appeared  how  much  his  fpirltual  kingdom 
exceeded  the  moft  glorious  temporal  ones.  The  flrength 
and  glory  of  Satan's  kingdom  in  thefe  four  mighty  mo- 
narchies, appeared  in  Its  greateft  height :  for  thofe  were 
the  monarchies  of  the  heathen  world,  and  fo  the  ftrength 
of  them  was  the  ftrength  of  Satan's  kingdom.  God  fuf- 
fered  the  latter  to  rife  to  fo  great  a  height  of  power  and 
magnificence  before  his  Son  came  to  overthrow  it,  to 
prepare  the  way  for  his  more  glorious  triumph.  Goliath 
muft  have  on  all  his  armour  when  the  ftripling  David 
comes  agalnft  him  with  a  fling  and  a  ftone,  for  the 
greater  glory  of  David's  viclorv.  God  fufFered  one  of 
thofe  great  monarchies  to  fubdue  another,  and  ere6t  itfelf 
on  the  other's  ruins,  appearing  flill  in  greater  ftrength, 
and  the  lalT:  to  be  the  ftrongeft  and  mightleft  of  all ;  that 
fo  Chrlft,  in  overthrowing  that,  might,  as  it  were,  over- 
throw them  all  at  once  ;  as  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the  moun- 
tain without  hands,  is  reprefented  as  deftroying  the  whole 
image,  the  gold,  the  lilver,  the  brafs,  the  iron,  and  the 
clay  ;  fo  that  all'  became  as  the  chaff  of  the  fummer 
threfning-fioor. 

Thefe  mighty  empires  were  fuffered  tlius  to  convulfe 
the  world,  and  deftroy  one  another :  and  though  then- 
power  was  fo  great,  yet  they  could  hot  uphold  themfelves, 
but  fell  one  after  another,  and  came*  to  nothing,  even  the 
laft  of  them,  which  was  the  ftrongeft,  and  had  fwallowed 

up 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        359 

up  the  earth.  It  pleafed  God  thus  to  (how  in  them  the 
inftability  and  .vanity  of  all  earthly  power  and  greatnefs  ; 
which  ferved  as  a  foil  to  fet  forth  the  glory  of  the  king- 
dom of  his  Son,  which  never  fhall  be  deftroyed,  [Dan. 
ii.  44.]  '  In  the  days  of  thefe  kings    fhall  the   God   of 

•  heaven   fet  up  a   kingdom,  which   fhall   never  be   de- 

•  ftroyed:    and  the  kingdom  fhall   not   be  left   to   other 

•  people,  but  it   fhall  break   in  pieces,  and    confume  all 

•  thefe  kingdoms,  and  it  fhall  fland  for  ever.'  So  greatly 
does  this  differ  from  all  thofe  kingdoms :  they  vanifh  away, 
and  are  left  to  other  people  ;  but  this  fhall  fland  for  ever. 
God  fufFered  the  devil  to  do  his  utmoft,  and  to  eflablifh 
his  interefl,  by  fetting  up  the  greateft,  flrongeft,  and  moft 
Sjlorious  kingdoms  in  the  world,  before  the  defpifed  Jefus 
overthrew  him  in  his  empire.  Chrift  came  into  the  world 
to  bring  down  the  high  things  of  Satan's  kingdom,  that 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  might  be  on  every  one  that  is  proud 
and  lofty,  and  every  high  tower,  and  every  lofty  moun- 
tain ;  [Ifaiah  ii.  12,  &:c.]  And  therefore  thefe  things 
were  fufFered  to  rife  very  high,  that  Chrilt  might  appear 
fo  much  the  more  glorious  in  being  above  them.- -Thus 
■wonderfully  did  the  great  and  wife  governor  of  the  world 
prepare  the  way  for  the  erection  of  the  glorious  kingdom 
of  his  beloved  fon  Jefus. 

(3.)  Another  thing  for  which  this  lafl  period  or  fpace 
of  time  before  Chrift  vi'as  particularly  remarkable,  was  the 
wonderful  prefervation  of  the  clmrch  through  all  thofe 
overturnings.  This  was,  on  fome  accounts,  more  re- 
markable through  this  period,  than  through  any  of  the 
foregoing.  It  was  very  wonderful  that  the  church,  which 
now  was  fo  weak,  and  in  fo  low  a  ftate,  and  moftly 
fubje6t  to  the  dominion  of  heathen  monarchies,  fliould 
be  preferved  for  five  or  fix  hundred  years  together,  while 
the  world  was  fo  often  overturned,  and  the  earth  was  rent 
in  pieces,  and  made  fo  often  empty  and  wafte,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  it  came  down  fo  often  every  one  by  the 
fword  of  his  brother.  I  fay  it  was  wonderful  that  the 
church  in  its  weak  and  low  f!:atc,  being  but  a  little 
handful  of  men,  lliould  be    preferved  in    all    thefe   great 

L 1  2  ^on- 


26o         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTIOK 

convulfions;  efpeclally  confidering  that  the  land  of  Judca, 
the  chief  place  of  the  church's  relidence,  lay  in  the  midfl 
of  them,  as  it  were  in  the  middle  between  the  contend- 
ing parties,  and  was  very  much  the  feat  of  war  amongft 
them,  and  was  often  over-run  and  fubdued,  and  fome- 
times  in  the  hands  of  one  people,  and  fometimes  another, 
and  very  much  the  objeil  of  the  envy  and  hatred  of  all 
heathen  nations,  and  often  almoft  ruined  by  them,  great 
multitudes  of  its  inhabitants  being  flain,  and  the  land  in 
a  great  meafure  depopulated  ;  and  thofe  who  had  them 
in  their  power,  often  intended  the  utter  deftruflion  of 
the  whole  nation.  Yet  they  were  upheld ;  they  were 
preferved  in  their  captivity  in  Babylon,  and  they  were 
upheld  again  under  all  the  dangers  they  paffed  through, 
under  the  kings  of  Perfia,  and  the  much  greater  dangers 
they  were  liable  to  under  the  empire  of  the  Greeks,  and 
afterwards  when  the  world  was  trodden  down  by  the 
Romans. 

Their  prefervation  through  this  period  was  alfo  pecu- 
liarly remarkable,  in  that  we  never  read  of  the  church's 
fufFering  perfecution  in  any  former  period  in  any  meafure 
to  fuch  a  degree  as  they  did  in  this,  under  Antiochus  Epi- 
phanes,  of  which  more  afterwards.  This  wonderful  pre- 
fervation of  the  church  ihrougli  all  thefe  overtuinings  of 
the  world,  gives  light  and  confirmation  to  what  we  read 
in  the  xlvith.  Pfalm,   '   God  is  our  refuge  and  ftrength,   a 

*  very  prefent  help  in  trouble.  Therefore  will  not  w'c 
^  fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the  moun- 
'  tains  be  carried   into  the   midll  of  the  lea  ;  though  the 

*  waters  thereof  roar,  and  be  troubled  ;  though  tlie  moun.- 
'  tains  fliake  with  the  fwelling  thereof.' 

THUS  I  have  taken  notice  of  fome  general  things 
wherein  this  laft  period  of  the  Old  Tei^ament  times  was 
diftinguilhed.  I  come  now  to  confider  how  the  work  of 
redemption  was  carried  on  in  particulars.— And, 

I.  The  firft  thing  that   here  offers   is  the  captivity   of 
the   Jews  into    Babylon.     This  wa's  a  great   difpenfation 
pi  providence,  and  fuch  as  never  was  before.     The  chil- 
dren 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        261 

<lren  of  Ifrael  in  tlie  time  of  the  judges,  had  often  been 
brought  under  their  enemies ;  and  many  particular  perfons 
were  carried  captive  at  other  times.  But  never  had  there 
been  any  fuch  thing  as  deftroying  the  whole  land,  the 
fanfluary,  and  the  city  of  Jerufalem,  and  all  the  cities  and 
villages  of  the  land,  and  carrying  the  whole  body  of  the 
people  o\ir  of  their  own  land  into  a  country  many  hundred 
miles  diflant,  and  leaving  the  land  of  Canaan  empty  of 
God's  vifible  people.  The  ark  had  once  forfaken  the  ta- 
bernacle of  Shilo,  and  was  carried  captive  into  the  land  of 
the  Philiftines :  but  never  liad  there  been  any  luch  thing 
as  the  burning  the  fan6luary,  and  utterly  dellroying  the 
ark,  and  carrying  away  all  the  facred  veffels  and  utenfils, 
and  breaking  up  all  their  ftated  worfliip  in  the  land,  and 
the  land's  lying  walle  and  empty  for  fo  many  years  toge- 
tlier.  How  lively  arc  thofe  things  fct  forth  in  the  Lamen- 
tations of  Jeremiah  !  (y)— The  work  of  redemption  was 
promoted  by  this  remarkable  difpenfation  in  thefe  following 
ways. 

(i.)  It  finally  cured  that  nation  of  their  idolatry.  The 
prophet  Ifaiah,  fpeaking  of  the  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom 
of  Chrift,  [ii.  18.]  fays,  '  The  idols  he  (hall  utterly  abo- 
'  lidi.'  When  the  time  was  drawing  near,  that  God 
would  aboliih  heathen  idolatry,  through  the  greater  part 
ot  the  known  world,  it  pleafed  him  tirft  to  aboliiii  hea- 
ihenifm  among  his  own  people,  by  their  captivity  in  Ba- 
bylon. 

This 

(y)  The  LAMnm  at  lotis  of  yarmitih.^  "There  is  nothing 
in  all  the  tragedians,  not  in  Euripedcs  liimreif,  (fo  mafterly  in  his 
mourning  llrokes)  that  is  equally  moving  and  tender  with  tlie 
Lamentations  of  the  Prophet  Jeremiah — '  O  that  my  head  were 
f  waters,  and  mine  eyes  fountains  of  tears! — O,  all  ye  that  pafs 

*  by,  behold  and  fee  if  there  be  any  forrow  like  unto  my  forrowl" 
....  It  is  a  piece  of  fupcrlativc  beauty,  and  ....  comprifes  all 
the  eloquence  of  mourning.  '  Did  we  "ever  find  (fays  the  eloquent 
'  Dr.  South)  forrow  flowing  in  fuch  a  natural  prevailing  pathos? 

*  .  .  .  .   One  would  think  that  every  letter  was  wrote  with  a  tear: 

*  every  word  was  the  noifc  of  a  breaking  heart ;  that  the  author 

*  was  a  man  compared  of  forrows,  difciplined  to  grief  from  his 

*  infancy  ;  one  who  never  breathed  but  in  fighs,  nor  fpokc  b:;t  in 

*  a  groan."     [Bi-ackwall's  ^ac.  ClafRcs,  vol.  i,] 


26z        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

This  nation,  which  was  addi6ted  to  idolatry  for  (o 
many  ages,  and  not  reformed  by  all  the  reproofs,  warn- 
ings, corre(5lions,  and  judgments  infli6led  on  them  for  it, 
were  now  finally  cured  ;  fo  that  however  fome  might  fall 
into  this  fin  afterwards,  as  they  did  about  the  time  of 
Antiochus's  perfccutlon,  yet  the  nation,  as  a  nation,  ne- 
ver (hewed  any  hankering  after  this  fin  any  more.  This 
was  a  remarkable  and  wonderful  change  in  that  people, 
and  what  dire6lly  promoted  the  work  of  redemption,  as 
it  was  a  great  advancement  of  the  interell  of  religion. 

(2.)  It  was  one  thing  that  prepared  the  way  for  Chrift's 
coming,  and  letting  vip  the  glorious  difpenfation  of  the 
gofpel,  as  it  took  away  many  of  thofe  things,  wherein  con- 
fined the  glory  of  the  Jewilh  difpenfation.  Firil;,  it  re- 
moved the  temporal  diadem  of  the  houfe  of  David  away 
from  them,  i.  c.  the  fupreme  and  indeoendent  government 
of  themfelves.  The  time  now  approaching,  when  ChrilT:, 
the  great  and  everlafting  king  of  his  church,  was  to  reign, 
it  was  time  for  the  typical  kings  to  withdraw.  The  Jews 
henceforward  were  always  dependent  on  other  nations, 
until  Chrift  came,  for  near  fix  hundred  years,  except  about 
ninety  under  the  Maccabees  and  their  pofterity,  during 
which  fpace  they  maintained  a  fort  of  independence  by 
continuel  wars. 

Again,  by  the  captivity,  the  glory  and  magnificence  of 
the  temple  was  taken  away,  and  the  temple  that  was  built 
afterwards  was  nothing  in  comparifon  with  it.  Thus  it  was 
meet,  when  the  time  drew  nigh  that  the  glorious  antitype 
of  the  temple  Ihould  appear. 

Another  thing  that  they  loft  by  the  captivity,  was  the 
two  tables  of  the  teftimony  delivered  to  Moles,  on  which 
God  with  his  own  finger  wrote  the  ten  commandments  on 
Mount  Sinai.  Thefe  fcem  to  liavc  been  preferved  in  the 
ark  till  the  captivity,  and  were  there  when  Solomon  placed 
the  ark  in  the  temple,    [i  Kings  viii.  9.]   '  There  was  no- 

*  thing  in  the  ark,  fave  the  two  •  tables  of  ftone,  which 

*  Mofes  put  there  at  Horeb.' 

Another  thing  that  the  Jews  now  lofl,  was  the  Urim 
and  Thummim.    [Ezra  ii.  63.]     '  And  the  Tirfliatha  faid 

*  unto 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        263 

'  unto  them,  that  they  fhould  not  eat  of  the  moft  holy 
'  things,  till  there  ihould  ftand  up  a  prieft  with  Urtm  and 
'  Thummhn.''  And  we  have  no  account  that  this  was  ever 
reftored  ;  but  the  ancient  writings  of  the  Jews  fay  the 
contrary.  What  this  Urim  and  Thummim  was,  I  fliall 
not  now  inquire  ;  but  only  obferve,  that  it  was  foniething 
by  which  the  higli  prieft  inqiiired  of  God,  and  received 
immediate  anfvvers  from  him,  or  by  which  God  gave  fortii 
immediate  oracles  on  particular  occafions.  This  was  now 
withdrawn,  the  time  approaching  when  Chrift,  the  antitype 
of  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  the  great  word  and  oracle  of 
God,  was  to  come,      (z) 

Another  thing  that  the  ancient  Jews  fay  was  wanting 
in  the  fecond  temple,  was  the  Shechinali,  or  cloud  of 
glory  over  the  mercy-feat.  This  was  promifed  to  be  in 
the  tabernacle.   [Levit.  xvi.  2.]    '  For  I  will  appear  in  the 

'  cloud 

(z)  T/jic- Urim  a«6^  Thummim.]  To  enumerate  all  the  different 
opinions  of  the  learned  on  this  fubjeft  would  be  tedious  rather  than 
edifying.     The  following  are  the  moft  generally  received: 

1.  MoftChriftian  writers  take  the  Urim  and  Thummhn  to  mean 
the  precious  ftones  in  the  brcaft-plate  of  the  high  prieft  ;  but  the 
rabbins  will  have  it  that  the  ineffable  name  (Jehovah)  was  infcrted 
between  the  folds,  not  by  the  workmen,  as  the  ftones  were,  but  by 
Mofes  himfelf  under  Divine  direftion.    [Exod.  xxviii.  xxix.] 

2.  The  anfwer  of  this  oracle  muft  either  have  been  collecled  by 
the  peculiar  radiancy  of  certain  letters  of  the  names  of  the  tribes 
engraved  on  thefe  ftones;  or  rather  be  delivered  by  a  voice  from 
the  Shechinah,  as  at  other  times,  Numb.  vii.  8,  9.  See  i  Sam. 
xxiii.  II,  12. — xxx.  8. — 2  Sam.  ii.  i. — Judges  i.  I,  2. — xx.  18. 
All  are  agreed  that  this  method  was  only  lawful  for  the  mofl  eminent 
perfons,  and  on  the  moft  important  occafions.  The  Jews  aad, 
that  it  was  never  ufed  after  the  building  of  Solomon's  temple  ; 
and  give  this  reafon,  that  the  tribes  were  foon  after  divided,  and 
it  could  only  be  lawfully  confulted  in  cafes  in  which  they  were  all 
concerned. 

If  the  anfwer  was  given  by  a  voice  from  the  moft  holy,  then  the 
only  ufe  oi  the  brcaft-plate  ieems  to  have  been  as  a  memorial  of  the 
twelve  tribes  before  God,  herein  typifying  him  who  bears  all  the 
names  of  his  chofen  people  on  his  heart,  and  thus  conftantly  ap- 
pears in  the  prefence  of  God  for  us. 

[For  farther  fatisfaftion  on  this  very  difficult  fubjcft,  fee  Pri- 
deaux\  Connexion,  Part  II.  Book  3.  Levi's  Dictionary,  and 
Parhhurjl'%  Lexicon  in  "(IK.]  "  [G.  E.J 


264        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

*  cloud  upon  the  mercy-feat.'  And  we  read  of  the  cloud 
of  glory  defcending  into  the  tabernacle;  [Exod.  xl.  35.] 
and  fo  likewife  with  refpedl  to  Solomon's  temple.  But 
we  have  no  account  that  this  cloud  of  glory  was  in  the 
fecond  temple  ;  and  »^he  ancient  accounts  of  the  Jews  fny, 
that  there  was  no  fuch  thing  there.  This,  indeed,  was 
needlefs  in  the  fecond  temple,  confidering  that  God  had 
promifed  to  fill  it  with  glory  another  way,  viz.  by  Chrift's 
coming  into  it;  which  was  afterwards  fuHilled,  [Haggai  ii. 
7.]  'I  will  ihake  all  nations,  and  the  defire  of  all  nations 
'  fhall  come,  and  I  will  till  this  houfe  with  glory,  faith  the 
'  Lord  of  hofts.' 

Another  thing  that  the  Jews  in  their  ancient  writings 
mention  as  being  now  withdrawn,  was  the  fire  from 
heaven  on  the  altar.  When  Mofes  built  the  tabernacle 
and  altar  in  the  wildernefs,  and  the  firfi:  facrifices  were 
offered  on  it,  fire  came  down  from  heaven,  and  confumed 
the  burnt-offering,  [Leviticus  ix.  24.]  and  again,  when 
Solomon  built  the  temple,  and  offered  the  firft  facriHces, 
[2  Chronicles  vii.  i.]  This  fire  was  never  to  go  out.  but 
with  the  greatefi:  care  to  be  kept  alive.  [Leviticus  vi.  13.] 
'  The  fire  fliall  ever  be  burning  upon  the  altar;  it  fiiall 
'  never  go  out.'  And  there  is  no  reafon  to  fuppofe  the  fire 
in  Solomon's  time  ever  went  out  till  the  temple  was  de- 
ffroyed  by  the  Babylonians ;  but  then  it  was  extinguiilied, 
and  never  reflored.  And  the  Jews,  after  their  return,  were 
forced  to  make  ufe  of  their  common  fire  inftead  of  it,  ac- 
cording to  the  ancient  tradition  of  the  Jews.  Thus  the 
lights  of  the  Old  Teftament  go  out  on  the  approach  of  the 
glorious  Sun  of  righteoufnefs. 

(3.)  Tl;e  captivity  in  Babylon  was  the  occafion  of 
another  thing,  which  afterwards  promoted  the  fetting  up 
of  Chrift's  kingdom  in  the  world,  viz.  the  difperfijn  :;f 
the  Jews  through  the  greater  part  of  the  known  world, 
for  the  wliole  nation  being  carried  away  far  out  of  their 
own  land,  and  continuing  in  a  flate  ot  captivity  for  fo 
long  a  time,  they  got  them  poffcffions,  built  houfes,  arid 
fettled  thcmfelvcs  in   the  land  of  their  captivity,  agreeable 

to 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        265 

to  the  cIire6lion  that  Jeremiah  gave  in  the  letter  he  wrote 
to  them.  [Chap,  xxix.]  And  therefoie,  v/hen  Cvrus  gave 
them  liberty  to  return  to  the  land  where  they  had  formerly 
dwelt,  many  of  them  never  returned ;  tliey  were  not 
willing  to  leave  their  feitlements  and  pofleflions  tliere  to 
go  into  a  defolate  country,  many  hundred  miles  diflant, 
which  none  but  the  old  men  among  them  had  ever  feen  ; 
and  therefore  they  were  but  few,  but  a  fmall  number  that 
returned.  Great  numbers  tarried  behind,  though  they  ftill 
retained  the  fame  religion  with  thofe  that  returned,  fo  far 
as  it  could  be  pradlifed  in  a  foreign  land.  Thofe  meffen- 
gers  [Zechariah  vii.]  that  came  to  inquire  of  the  priefts 
and  propliets  in  Jerufalem,  Sherezer  and  Regem-melech, 
are  fuppofed  to  have  been  fent  trom  the  Jews  that  remained 
ftill  in  Babylon. 

Thofe  Jews  that  remained  ftill  in  that  country  were 
foon,  by  the  great  changes  that  happened  in  the  world, 
difperfed  thence  into  all  the  adjacent  countries.  And 
hence  we  find,  that  in  Efther's  time,  which  was  after  the 
return  fromtlie  captivity,  the  Jews  were  difperfed  through- 
out all  the  vaft  Perfian  empire,  which  extended  from 
India  to  Ethiopia.  [Efther  iii.  8.]  '  And  Haman  faid 
'  unto  King  Ahafuerus,  There  is  a  certain  people  fcat- 
*  tered  abroad,  and  difperfed  among  the  people  in  all 
'  the  provinces  of  thy  kingdom,'  Sec.  And  fo  they  con- 
tinued difperfed  till  Chrill  came,  and  till  the  apoftles  went 
forth  to  preach  the  gofpel.  But  yet  thefe  difperfed  Jews 
retained  their  religion  in  this  difperfion.  Their  captivity, 
as  I  faid  before,  thoroughly  cured  them  of  their  idolatry, 
and  it  was  their  manner,  for  as  many  of  them  as  could 
from  time  to  time,  to  go  up  to  the  land  of  Judca  to  Jeru- 
falem at  their  great  feaft.  Hence  we  read,  [Adls  ii.]  that 
at  the  time  of  the  great  feaft  of  Pentecotl,  there  were  Jews 
then  at  Jerufalem  out  of  every  nation  under  heaven. 
Thefe  were  come  up  from  all  countries  whither  they  had 
been  difperfed,  to  worlhip  at  that  feaft.  And  hence  we 
find,  in  the  hiftory  of  the  Acts,  that  wherever  the  apollies 
went  preaching  through  the  world,  they  found  Jews. 

*  ^I  ra  Antiochus 


266        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Antiochus  the  Great,  about  two  hundred  years  before 
Chrift,  on  a  certain  occafion,  tranfplanted  two  thoufand 
families  of  Jews  from  the  country  about  Babylon  into  Afia 
the  Lefs:  and  fo  they  and  their  pofterity,  many  of  them, 
fettled  in  Pontns,  Galatia,  Phrygia,  Pamphylia,  and  in 
Ephefus  ;  and  from  thence  fettled  in  Athens,  and  Corinth, 
and  Rome,  (a)  Hence  the  fyuagogues  in  thofe  places 
where  the  Apoftle  Paul  preached. — This  difperfion  of  the 
Jews  through  the  world  before  Chrift  came,  did  many 
ways  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming,  and  fetting  up  his 
kingdom  in  the  world. 

One  was,  that  this  was  a  means  of  raifmg  a  general  ex- 
peftation  of  the  Meffiah  through  the  world  about  the  time 
that  he  adtually  came.  For  the  Jews,  wherever  they  were 
difperfed,  carried  the  holy  fcriptures  with  them,  and  fo  the 
prophecies  of  the  Meiliah  ;  and  being  converfant  with  the 
nations  among  whom  they  lived,  tliey,  by  that  means,  be- 
came acquainted  with  thefe  prophecies,  and  with  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  Jews,  of  their  glorious  MefTiah  ;  and  by 
this  means,  the  birth  of  fuch  a  glorious  perfon  in  Judea 
about  that  time  began  to  be  the  general  expe6lation  of  the 
nations  of  the  world,  as  appears  by  the  writings  of  the 
learned  men  of  the  heathen  that  lived  about  that  time, 
which  are  ftill  extant;  particularly  Virgil,  the  famous  poet 
that  lived  in  Italy  a  little  before  Chrifl:  was  born,  has  a 
poem  about  the  expectation  of  a  great  prince  that  was  to  be 
born,  and  the  happy  times  of  righteoufnefs  and  peace  that 
he  was  to  introduce  ;  fome  of  it  very  like  the  language  of 
the  prophet  Ifaiah.   (b) 

Another 

(a)  Antiochus  tranfplanted  tnvo  thoufand  yenv'ijh  famil'iesS^  "An- 
tiochus had  received  fo  many  fervices  from  the  Jews  ....  and 
depended  lo  much  on  their  fidelity,  that  when  a  fedition  broke  out 
in  Phrygia  and  Lydia,  he  fent  two  thoufand  Jewifli  families  to 
quell  it,  and  keep  the  country  in  peace,  and  was  exceedingly  libe- 
ral to  them.  It  was  from  thefe  Jews..  .  .  .  that  defcended  many 
of  thofe  who  were  difperfed  or  fcattered  abroad — whom  we  fhall 
afterwards  find  fo  numerous.  James  i.'i. —  i  Peter  i.i."  [Rol- 
lin's  Ancient  Hiilory,  Book  xviii.  Art.  i.  ij  2.] 

(b)  Virgil  refembks  Ifaiah.']  This  alludes  to  PlrgiPs  Pollio, 
written  about  forty  years  before  the  birth  of  Chrift.     Mr.  Pope's 

cele- 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        267 

Another  way  that  this  difperfed  ftate  of  the  Jews  pre- 
pared the  way  for  Chrift  was,  that  it  fhowed  the  neceflity 
of  abolifhing  the  Jewifl\  difpenfation,  and  of  introducing 
the  new  one  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  It  fliowcd  the 
neceflity  of  abolifliing  the  ceremonial  law,  and  the  old 
Jewilh  worihip:  for,  by  this  means,  the  obfervance  ot 
M  m  2  that 

celebrated  Mefilah  is  written  on  the  correfpondent  paflages  between 
the  claflic  and  infpired  poets;  and  their  remarkable  coincidence  is 
pointed  out  in  the  notes;  alfo  the  fuperior  beauty  of  the  latter. 

The  following  is  Mr.  Dryden's  tranflation  of  the  moft  celebrated 
lines  in  the  paftoral  of  Virgil  alluded  to,  except  that  the  words  in 
Italics  are  inferted  to  render  it  more  literal. 

*'   The  virgin  noiu  returns,  Saturnian  times 

Roll  round  again 

The  bafe,  degenerate  iron  offspring  ends, 
A  golden  progeny  from  heaven  defcends. 


Thou  ev'ry  baniOi'd  virtue  (halt  reftore. 

And  crimes  fhall  terrify  the  world  no  more. 

The  jarring  nations  he  in  peace  fhall  bind. 

And  with  paternal  virtues  rule  mankind. 

Unbidden  earth  fliall  wreathing  ivy  bring, 

And  fragrant  herbs  (the  promifes  of  fpring) 

As  her  firft  off'rings  to  her  infant  king. 

The  goats  with  ftrutting  dugs  fliall  homeward  fpeed, 

And  lowing  herds  fecuve  luith  lions  feed. 

His  cradle  fhall  with  rifing  flowers  be  crown'd  ; 

The  ferpent's  brood  fliall  die  ;  the  facred  ground 

Shall  weeds  and  pois'nous  plants  rcfufe  to  bear. 


} 


Unlabour'd  harvefts  fhall  the  fields  adorn. 
And  clufler'd  grapes  fhall  blufh  on  ev'ry  thorn  ; 
The  knotted  oaks  fhall  fhow'rs  of  honey  weep." 

0,   Son  of  mighty  Jove  !  from  heaii'n  appear  ; 

Come  to  thine  honours — lo,  the  time  draivs  near  ! 

The  barren  hills  proclaim  the  Deity  ; 

A  God !  a  God !  the  vocal  rocks  reply. 
Not  only  Virgil,  but  Tacitus  and  Suetonius  both  fay,  an  opinion 
univerfally  prevailed  all  over  the  eafl,  that  about  this  time  one  out 
of  Judea  fhould  obtain  the  empire  of  the  world.  This  opinion  is 
fuppofed  to  have  originated  from  the  Sybilline  books;  but  whether 
it  came  from  them,  from  Balaam's  famous  predictions,  or  from  the 
facred  prophets  of  the  Jews,  is  of  no  immediate  confequence,  as 
the  hdi  itfelf  is  indifputable.  [G.  E.] 


268  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

that  ceremonial  law  became  impracticable  even  by  the 
Jews  themfelves,  for  the  ceremonial  law  was  adapted  to 
the  ftate  of  a  people  dwelling  together  in  the  fame  land, 
where  was  the  city  that  God  had  chofen  ;  where  was  the 
temple,  the  only  place  where  they  might  offer  facrifices  ; 
where  it  was  lawful  for  their  priefts  and  Levites  to  offi- 
ciate ;  where  they  were  to  bring  their  firfl:  fruits,  and 
"where  their  cities  of  refuge  were,  and  the  like.  But  the 
Jews,  by  this  difperlion,  lived,  many  of  them,  in  other 
lands,  more  than  a  thoufand  miles  diftant,  when  Chrift 
came  ;  which  made  the  obfervation  of  their  laws  of  fa- 
crifices,  and  the  like,  impradlicable.  And  though  their 
forefathers  might  be  to  blame  in  not  going  up  to  the  land 
of  Judea  when  they  were  permitted  by  Cyrus,  yet  the 
cafe  was  now,  as  to  many  of  them  at  leaft,  become  im- 
pra£licable ;  which  ifiowed  the  neceffity  of  introducing  a 
new  difpenfation,  that  fhould  be  fitted,  not  only  to  one 
particular  land,  but  to  the  general  circumflances  and  ufe 
of  all  nations. 

Again,  another  way  that  this  difperfion  of  the  Jews 
prepared  the  way  for  the  fetiing  up  of  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  in  the  world,  was,  that  it  contributed  to  the  mak- 
ing the  fa£ts  concerning  Jefus  Chrift-  publicly  known 
through  the  world.  For,  as  I  obferved  before,  the  Jews 
that  lived  in  other  countries  ufed  frequently  to  go  up  to 
Jerufalem  at  their  three  great  fealts,  which  were  from 
year  to  year  ;  and  fo,  by  this  m.eans,  they  could  not  but 
become  acquainted  with  the  news  of  the  wonderful  things 
that  Chrift  did  in  that  land.  We  find  that  they  were 
prefent  at,  and  took  great  notice  of,  that  great  miracle 
of  raifing  Lazarus,  which  excited  the  curiofity  of  thofe 
foreign  Jews  that  came  up  to  the  feaft  of  the  palTover  to 
fee  Jefus:  [John  xii.  20,  2 1 .]  Titefe  Greeks  were  fo- 
reign Jews  and  prolelytes,  as  is  evident  by  their  coming 
to  worihip  at  the  feaft  of  the  paflbver.  The  Jews  that 
lived  abroad  among  the  Greeks,  and  fpoke  their  language, 
were  called  Greeks,  or  Heilenifts :  fo. they  are  called  Gre- 
cians.    [Afts  vi.    I.]       Thefe  Grecians    here    Ipoken  of 

were 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        269 

v\'crc  not  Gentile  Chriftians ;  for  this  was  before  the  cal- 
ling of  the  Genciles.   (c) 

By  the  faine  means,  the  Jews  that  came  up  from  other 
countries  became  acquainted  with  Chrift's  crucifixion. 
Thus  the  difciples,  going  to  Emmaus,  fay  to  Chrift,  when 
they  did  not  know  him,  [Luke  xxiv.  18.]  '  Art  thou  only 
'  a  fl-ranger  in  Jerufalcm,  and  haft  not  known  the  things 
'  which  have  come  to  pafs  there  in  thefe  davs  V  Plainly 
intimating,  that  the  things  concerning  Jefus  were  fo  pub- 
licly known  to  all  men,  that  it  was  wonderful  to  find  any 
man  unacquainted  with  them.  And  fo  afterwards  they  be- 
came acquainted  with  the  news  ot  his  refurre6^ion  ;  and 
when  they  went  home  again  into  their  own  countries,  they 
carried  the  news  with  them,  and  fo  made  thefe  fa£^s  public 
through  the  world,  as  they  had  made  the  prophecies  of 
ihem  public  before. 

After  this,  thofe  foreicrn  Jews  that  came  to  Jerufalem, 
look  great  notice  of  the  pouring  cue  of  the  Spirit  of  Pente- 
coft,  and  the  wonderful  effedls  of  it ;  and  many  of  them 
were  converted  by  it,  viz.  Parthians,  Medes,  Elamites, 
and  the  dwellers  in  Mefapctamia,  and  in  Egypt,  and  the 
parts  of  Libya  about  Cyrene,  and  the  ftrangcrs  of  Rome, 
Jews  and  profelytes,  Cretes  and  Arabians.  And  fo  they 
did  not  only  carry  back  the  news  of  the  fails  of  Chrif- 
rianity,  but  Chriftianity  itlelf,  into  their  own  countries 
with  them  ;  which  contributed  much  to  the  fpreading  of  it 
Through  the  world. 

Again,  another  way  that  the  difperfion  of  the  Jev/s 
contributed  to  the  fetting  up  of  the  gofpel  kingdom  in 
the  world  was,  that  it  opened  a  door  for  the  introduction 
of  the  apoftles  in  all  places  where  they  came  to  preach 
the  gofpel.  For  almoft  in  all  places  where  they  came  to 
preach  the  goipel,  they  found  fynagogues  of  the  Jews, 
where  the  holy  fcriptures  were  wont  to  be  read,  and  the 

true 

(c)  Grecians — foreign  Jews.]  "  This,  for  reafons  which 
may  be  feen  at  large  in  Dr.  Benfonz  Hiftory,  appears  to  me  far 
the  moll  probable  opinion  ....  as  well  as  that  which  is  generally 
allowed  by  all  the  bell  commentators."  [Doddridge,  Fam. 
Expof.  in  Ads  vi.  i.] 


370        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

true  God  worfliipped  ;  which  was  a  great  advantage  to 
the  apoftles  in  fpreading  the  gofpel.  For  their  wav  was, 
into  whatever  city  they  came,  firft  to  go  into  the  fyna- 
gogue  of  the  Jews,  (they  being  people  of  the  fame  na- 
tion,) and  there  to  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them.  And 
hereby  their  coming,  and  their  new  do6lrine,  was  taken 
notice  of  by  their  Gentile  neighbours,  whofe  curiofity 
excited  them  to  hear  what  they  had  to  fay  ;  which  be- 
came a  fair  occafion  to  the  apoflles  to  preach  the  gofpel 
to  them.  It  appears  that  it  was  thus,  by  the  account  we 
have  in  the  Ads  of  the  Apoftles.  And  thefe  Gentiles  hav- 
ing been  before,  many  of  them,  prepared  in  fome  mea- 
fnre,  by  the  knowledge  they  had  of  the  Jews  religion, 
and  of  their  worfhip  of  one  God,  and  of  their  prophe- 
cies, and  expedlation  of  a  MefTiah  ;  which  knowledge  they 
derived  from  the  Jews,  who  had  long  been  their  neigh- 
bours ;  tills  opened  the  door  for  the  gofpel  to  have  accefs 
to  them.  And  the  work  of  the  apoflles  with  them  was 
doubtlefs  much  eafier  than  if  they  never  had  any  expec- 
tation of  fuch  a  perfon  as  the  apoftles  preached,  or  heard 
about  the  worfhip  of  one  only  true  God.  So  many  ways 
did  the  Babylonifh  captivity  greatly  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrifl's  coming. 

2.  The  next  particular  that  I  would  take  notice  of  is, 
the  addition  made  to  the  canon  of  fcrlpture  in  the  time  of 
the  captivity,  in  thofe  two  remarkable  portions  of  fcrjp- 
ture,  the  prophecies  of  Ezekiei  and  Daniel.  Chr ill:  ap- 
peared to  each  of  theie  prophets  in  the  form  of  that  na- 
ture which  he  was  afterwards  to  take  upon  him.  The 
prophet  Ezekiei  gives  an  account  of  his  thus  appearing  to 
him  repeatedly,    [chap.  i.  26]   '  And  above  the  firmament 

*  that  was  over  their  heads,  was  the  llkencfs  of  a  throne, 
■■   ns  the    appearance  of  a    fapphire   flone,    and   upon    the 

*  likcnefs  of  the   throne  was  the  likenefs  as   the   appear- 

*  ance  of  a  man  above  upon  it;'  [alfo  chap.  vill.  i,  2.] 
So  Chrifl;  appeared  to  the  prophet  Daniel  :  [chap.  viii. 
15,  16.]  '  There  ftood  before  me  as  the  appearance  of  a 

*  man.     And  I  heard   a  man's  voice*  between  the  banks  of 

*  ^Ulai,  which  called,  and  laid,   Gabriel,  make  this  man 

'  to 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        271 

'  to  underftand  the  vifion.'  There  are  feveral  things  that 
make  it  evident,  that  this  was  Chrift,  which  I  cannot 
now  mention  particularly.*  So  Chrift  appeared  again  as 
a  man  to  this  prophet,  [chap.  x.  5,  6.]  '  Then  I  lift  up 
'  mine  eyes  and  looked,  and  behold  a  certain  man  clothed 
'  in  linen,  whole  loins  were  girded  with  tine  gold  of 
'  Uphaz:  his  body  alfo  was  like  the  beryl,  and  his  face 

*  as  the  appearance  ot  lightning,  and  his  eyes  as  lamps  of 

<  fire  ;  and   his  arms  and  his  feet  like  in  colour  to  po- 

<  liflied  brafs,  and  the  voice  of  his  words  like  the  voice 
'  of  a  multitude.'  Comparing  this  vifion  with  that  of 
the  apoftle  John,  [Rev,  i.  13.]  makes  it  manifeft  that  it 
was  Chrifl.  And  the  prophet  Daniel,  in  the  hiftorical  part 
of  his  book,  gives  an  account  of  a  very  remarkable  appear- 
ance of  Chrift  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace,  with  Sha- 
drach,    Melhach,   and  Abednego,  [chap.  iii.  25.]  '  Lo  I 

*  fee  four  men  loofe,— and  the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like 

*  the  Son  of  God.' 

Chrift  did  not  only  here  appear  in  the  form  of  the  human 
nature,  but  he  appeared  in  a  furnace,  faving  thofe  perfons 
who  believed  on  him  from  that  furnace  ;  by  which  is  re- 
prefented  to  us,  how  Chrift,  by  coming  himlclf  into  the 
furnace  of  God's  wrath,  faves  thofe  that  believe  in  him 
therefrom,  and  the  wrath  of  God  never  reaches  or  touches 
them,  fo  mvich  as  to  ftnge  the  hair  of  their  head. 

Thefe  two  prophets,  in  many  refpedls,  were  more  par- 
ticular concerning  the  coming  of  Chrift,  and  his  glorious 
gofpel  kingdom,  tlian  any  of  the  prophets  had  been  be- 
fore. They  both  of  them  mention  thofe  three  great  re- 
volutions of  the  world  that  fhould  be  before  he  came. 
Ezekicl  is  particular  in  leveral  places  concerning  the  com- 
ing of  Chrift.  The  prophet  Daniel  is  more  fo  in  fore- 
telling the  time  of  the  coining  of  Chrift  than  any  pro- 
phet had  been  before,  in  the  ixth  chapter  of  his  pro- 
phecy ;  who  foretold,  that  it  ftiould  be  feventy  weeks,  /.  e\ 
feventy  weeks  of  years,  or  feventy  times  feven,  that  is,  four 
hundred  and  ninety  years,  from  the  decree  to  rebuild  and 

reftcre 

*  See  Note  (a)  p.  199. 


272        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

reftore  the  ftate  of  the  Jews,  till  the  MefTiah  fhould  be 
crucified  ;  which  muft  be  reckoned  from  the  commiffion 
given  to  Ezra  by  Artaxerxes,  [Ezravii.]  whereby  the  very 
-  time  of  Chrifl's  crucifixion  was  pointed  out,  which  never 
had  been  before,  (d) 

The  prophet  Ezekiel  is  very  particular  in  the  myftical 
defcriprion  of  the  gofpel  church,  in  his  account  of  his  vi- 
fion  of  the  temple  and  city,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  pro- 
phecy. The  prophet  Daniel  points  out  the  order  of  par- 
ticular events  that  ihould  come  to  pafs  relating  to  the 
Chriftian  church  after  Chrifl  was  c  :;me,  as  the  rife  of  an- 
tichrift,  and   the  continuance   of  his  reign,  and  his   fall, 

and 

(d)  DaniePs  seventy  wz'EKS  reel- otiedfrovi  ihe  commlffton  given 
to  Ezra  by  Artaxerxes.]  So  Dean  Prideaux,  Dr.  J.  Owen, 
and  others,  in  this  manner  : 

The  decree  given  in  the  year  457  before  the  Chriftian  sera,  from 
thence  to  the  year  Anno  Dom.  33,  when  Chrifl  was  crucified, 
was   490  years.     Now  the   text  fays,  '  ftvcnty  weeks  (/'.  e.    of 

*  years)  are  determined  upon  thy  people,  and  upon  thy  holy  city, 

*  to  finifh  the  tranfgrefiion,   and  to  make  an  end,  of  fins,  and  to 

*  make   reconciliation   for  iniquity,  and  to  bring  in  everlafting 

*  righteoufncfs,  and  to  feal  up,  (/.  e.  complete  and  confirm)  the 
'  vifion  and  prophecy  :' — all  which  were  accompliflied  in  the 
death  of  Chrift — *  and  to  anoint  the  moft  holy.'  We  have  ob- 
ferved  in  a  preceding  note,  that  the  mojl  Holy  (Holy , of  Holies  in 
the  Heb.)  was  typical  of  Chrift  in  his  ftate  of  exaltation  ;  the 
term  here  ufed  may  perhaps  be  in  allufion  to  this  event,  in  con- 
nexion with  his  death  ;  by  anointing  the  moft  Holy,  may  be  In- 
tended his  execution  of  his  prieftly  office,  in  offering  himfelfupon 
the  crofs,  and  afterwards  entering  into  the  immediate  prefence  of 
God,  as  the  high  prieft  into  the  moft  holy  place  on  the  great  day 
of  atonement. 

*  Know  therefore  and  underftand,  that  from  the  going  forth  of 
'  the  commandment  to  reftore  and  build  JcrnfaL-m,  unto  Meffiah, 

*  the  Prince,  fhall  be  feven  weeks  and  threefcore  and  two  weeks,* 
i.  e.  fixty-nine  weeks,  or  483  years  (for  fo  the  words  fhould 
be  pointed  and  diftributed)  and  thefe  bring  us  to  the  time 
of  Jefus  Chr'ft,  and  %-ery  near  his  baptifm. '  And  the  ftreet 

*  fhall  be  br.ilt  again,  and  the  wall ;'  /.  e.  the  Jewifh  ftate,  ci- 
vil and  ecckfiaftic,  cftabliflied,  as  well^  as  Jerufalem  itfelf  re- 
built, '  in  troublefome  timer..'  This  fills  the  firft  week,  or  forty- 
nine  years.  '  And  (then)  after  (/".  e.  in  the  week  after)  three- 
fcore and  two  weeks,'  from  the  firft  feven,  '  fhall  Meffiah  be  cut 

*  off,'  by  death,  *  but  not  for  himfelf.      And  the  people  of  that 

*  prince 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        273 

nnd  the  glory  that  ihould  follow. ---Thus  does  gofpel  light 
rtill  increafe,  the  nearer  we  come  to  the  time  of  Chrift's 
birth. 

3.  The  next  particular  I  would  mention  is,  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Babylon,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  Chaldean  em- 
pire by  Cyrus.  The  deftrudlion  of  Babylon  was  in  that 
night  in  which  Belihazzar  the  king,  and  the  city  in  general, 
was  drowned  in  a  drunken  feftival  which  they  kept  to  their 
gods,  when  Daniel  was  called  to  read  the  hand  writing  on 
the  wall,  [Dan.  v.  30.]  and  it  was  brought  about  in  fuch 
a  manner,  as  wonderfully  to  fhow  the  hand  of  God,  and 
remarkably  to  fulfil  his  word  by  his  prophets,  which  I  can- 
not now  ftand  particularly  to  relate,    (e)      Now  that  great 

city, 

*  prince  {hall  come,*  namely,  Titus,  *  and  fliall  deftroy  the  city  and 

*  the  fanftuary,  and  the  end  thereof  fhall  be  with  a  flood  ;  and 

*  unto  the  end  of  the  war,  defolations  are  determined.'  This  refers 
to  the  deltruftion  of  Jerufalem,  of  which  in  its  proper  place. 

*  And  he  (Mefliah)  fliall  confirm  the  covenant  with  many  for 

*  (or  in)  one  week,  and  in  the  midft  (or  in  the  courfe)   of  the 

*  week,'  namely,  the  feventicth  and  lail,  '  he  fhall  caufe  the  fa- 

*  crifice  to  ceafe,'  by  the  greater  facrifice  and  richer  oblation  of 
himfelf.  [See  Prideaux's  Conneft.  Part  I.  Book  5.  Dr.  Oiven  on 
the  Hebrews,  vol.  i.  Excr.  14,  15.  and  Mr.  R.  Wirtter's  Sermons 
on  Daniel'8  feventy  weeks.] 

(e)  The  deJlruBion  of  Babylon  FORETOLD.]  Mr.  RoLLiN  has 
collefled  and  arranged  the  feveral  prophecies  whicli  referred  to  this 
period,  and  fiicwn  how  exaftly  they  were  accompliflied.  We  fhall 
abridge  his  obfervatlons,  and  refer  to  the  texts  with  which  they  are 
fupported. 

1.  God  predicted  the  Jewifli  captivity  at  Babylon,  and  the  time 
of  its  continuance  to  be  feventy  years.     Jer.  xxv.  1 1. 

2.  The  caufes  of  God's  wrath  againft  Babylon  were,  her  pride — 
cruelty  to  the  Jews — and  facrilegious  impiety.      Ifa.  xlvii.  6 — 1 1 . 

3.  The  decree  pronounced.  The  calamities  that  were  to  fail 
upon  her,  utter  and  irreparable  deftruftion.  Pf.  cxxxvii.  8,  9. 
Ifa.  xiii.  xiv.     Jer.  li. 

4.  Cyrus  called  to  deflroy  Babylon,  and  to  deliver  the  Jews. 
Ifa.  xlv.  I — 4. 

5.  God  gives  fignal  to  the  commanders  and  to  the  troops  to 
march  againlt  Babylon.     Ifa.  xiii.  2 — 5.    xxi.  2. 

6.  Particular  circumftances  relative  to  the  fiege  and  taking  of 
Babylon.  The  army  to  confift  of  Medes  and  Pei  fians.  Ifa.  xxi. 
2,  Jer.  li.  II. — The  city  to  be  attacked  fuddenly.  Ifa.  xlvii.  1 1. 
Jer.  1.  24. — Euphrates  to  be  dried  up.     Jer.  1.  38,  39.    li.  36. — 

N  n  B'^bylun 


274        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

city,  which  had  long  been  an  enemy  to  the  city  of  God, 
viz.  Jerufalem,  was  defkroyed,  after  it  had  ftood  from  the 
firft  building  of  Babel,  which  was  about  feventeen  hun- 
dred years.  If  the  check  that  was  put  to  the  building  this 
city  at  its  beginning,  whereby  they  were  prevented  from 
carrying  it  to  that  extent  and  magnificence  that  they  in- 
tended ;  I  fay,  if  this  promoted  the  work  of  redemption, 
as  I  have  before  /liown  it  did,  much  more  did  this  deftruc- 
tion  of  it. 

It  was  a  remarkable  inftance  of  God's  vengeance  on  the 
enemies  of  his  redeemed  church  ;  for  he  brought  this  dc- 
flru6lion  on  Babylon  for  the  injuries  they  did  to  his  chil- 
dren, as  is  often  fet  forth  in  the  prophets.  It  alfo  promoted 
the  work  of  redemption,  as  thereby  God's  people,  that 
were  held  captive  by  them,  were  fet  at  liberty  to  return  to 
their  own  land  to  rebuild  Jerufalem  ;  and  therefore  Cyrus, 
who  did  it,  is  called  God's  fhepherd.  [Ifa.  xliv.  latter  end ; 
and  xlv.  i.]  And  thefe  are  over  and  above  thofe  ways 
wherein  the  fetting  up  and  overthrowing  the  four  monar- 
chies of  the  world  did  promote  the  work  of  redemption, 
which  have  been  before  obferved. 

4.  What  next  followed  this  was,  the  return  of  the 
Jews  into  their  own  land,  and  rebuilding  Jerufalem  and 
the  temple.  Cyrus,  as  foon  as  he  had  deftroyed  the 
Babyloniih  empire,  and  ere6led  the  Perfian  on  its  ruins, 
made  a  decree  in  favour  of  the  Jews,  that  they  might 
return    to   their   own   land,    and    rebuild   their  city    and 

temple, 

Babylon  to  be  taken  in  the  midft  of  rioting  and  debauchery.  Jer. 
li.  39,  57. — The  king  feized  with  inllant  terror.  Ifa.  xxi.  3,  4. 
Comp.  Dan.  v.  6. — That  he  fhould  return  to  his  debauchery.  Ifa. 
xxi.  5.  Comp.  Dan,  v.  10. — That  the  Babylonifh  troops,  which 
fhould  be  chiefly  foreigners,  fliould  be  fcattered  and  flee  home, 
Ifa.  xii.  4. — That  the  king  (hould  not  be  buried  with  his  ancef- 
tors.  Ifa.  xiv.  19,  20. — Theflaughter  of  his  children.  Ifa.  xiv. 
21,  22. 

Every  one  of  thefe  circumflances  was  literally  and  minutely  ful- 
filled ;  one  of  the  moll  remarkable  of  wRich  was,  that  Cyrus  con- 
trived to  render  the  Euphrates  fordable,  and  introduced  his  troops 
by  the  channel  of  it,  in  a  night  of  debauchery  and  riot,  wlicn 
through  the  providence  of  God  the  guards  had  negleftcd  to  fhut 
tlie  gates.      [See  Rollin's  Ancient  Hilt.  Book  iv.  art.  2.] 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        275 

temple.  This  return  of  the  Jews  out  of  the  Babylon! Hi 
captivity  is,  next  to  the  redemption  out  of  Egypt,  the 
mofl  remarkable  of  all  the  Old  Tcftament  redemptions, 
and  mod:  infifted  on  in  fcripture,  as  a  type  of  the  great 
redemption  of  Jefus  Chrift.  (f)  It  was  under  the  hand 
of  one  of  the  legal  anceftors  of  Chrift,  viz.  Zerubbabel, 
the  fon  of  Shealticl,  whofe  Babylonifli  name  was  Shefli- 
bazzar.  He  was  the  governor  of  the  Jews,  and  their 
leader  in  their  lirft  return  out  of  captivity ;  and,  together 
with  Jolhua  the  fon  of  Jofedek  the  high  prieft,  had  the 
chief  hand  in  rebuilding  the  temple.  This  redemption 
was  brought  about  by  the  hand  of  Zerubbabel  and  Jofliua 
the  prieft,  as  the  redemption  out  of  Egypt  was  brought 
about  by  the  hand  of  Mofes  and  Aaron. 

The  return  out  of  tlic  captivity  was  a  remarkable  dif- 
penfation  of  Providence.  It  was  remarkable,  that  the 
heart  of  an  heathen  prince,  as  Cyrus  was,  ftiould  be  fo 
inclined  fo  favour  fuch  a  defign  as  he  did,  not  only  in 
giving  the  people  liberty  to  return,  and  rebuild  the  city 
and  temple,  but  in  giving  charge  that  they  fhould  be 
helped  with  filver  and  gold,  and  with  goods,  and  with 
beafts.  [Ezra  i.  4.]  And  afterwards  God  wonderfully 
inclined  the  heart  of  Darius  to  further  the  building  of  the 
houfe  of  God  with  his  own  tribute-money,  and  by  com- 
manding their  bitter  enemies,  the  Samaritans,  \vho  had 
been  llriving  to  hinder  them,  to  furnilli  them  with  all 
tliat  they  needed  in  order  to  it,  and  to  fupply  them  day  by 
day  ;  making  a  decree,  that  whofoever  failed  of  it,  timber 
ftiould  be  pulled  down  out  of  his  houfe,  and  he  hanged 
thereon,  and  his  houfe  made  a.  dunghill.  [Ezra  vith.] 
And  after  this  God  inclined  the  heart  of  ArCaxcrxes, 
another  king  of  Perfia,  to  promote  the  work  of  preferving 
tlie  ftatc  of  the  Jews,  by  his  ample   commiffion   to  Ezra, 

N  n  2  [Ezra 


(f)  T/j£  r:turn from  Babylon  typical.]  "  The  return  of  the 
Jews  from  their  captivity  in  liabylon  was  only  a  Oiadow  of  that 
deliverance,  which  the  Meffiah  was  to  bring  into  the  world  :  and 
the  mighty  afts  which  God  wiouglit  in  the  rirll  period,  were  only 
faint  images  of  what  he  would  operate  in  the  fecond,"  [Saurin's 
SerraonS;  vol.  i.  fer.  4.   Robinfon'sTranflat.] 


276        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

[Ezra  viitli.]  helping  them  abundantly  with  filver  and 
gold  of  his  own  bounty,  and  offering  more,  as  (liould 
be  needful,  out  of  the  King's  treafure-houfe,  and  c  ;m- 
manding  his  treafurers  beyond  the  river  Euphrates  to 
give  more,  as  fhould  be  needed,  unto  an  hundred  talents 
of  filver,  and  an  hundred  meafures  of  wheat,  and  an 
hundred  baths  of  wine,  and  an  hundred  baths  of  oil,  and 
fait,  without  prefcribing  how  much  ;  and  giving  leave  to 
ell:ablilh  magiftrates  in  the  land  ;  and  freeing  the  priefls  of 
toll,  tribute,  and  cuftom,  and  other  things,  which  rendered 
the  decree  and  commiffjon  by  Artaxerxes  the  moft  full  and 
ample  in  the  Jews  favour  of  any  that,  at  any  time,  had 
been  given  for  the  reftoring  of  Jerufalem  :  and  therefore 
in  Daniel's  prophecy,  this  is  called  the  decree  for  the  re- 
floring  and  building  Jerufalem  ;  and  hence  the  feventy 
weeks  are  dated, 

And  after  this,  another  favourable  commifTion  was  granted 
by  the  king  of  Perfia  to  Nehemiah.  [Nehem.  ii.]  It  was 
remarkable,  that  the  hearts  of  heathen  princes  fhould  be  fo 
inclined.  It  was  the  effe6l  of  his  power,  who  hath  the 
hearts  of  Kings  in  his  hands,  and  turneth  them  whither- 
foever  he  will  ;  and  it  was  a  remarkable  inftance  of  his 
favour  to  his  people. 

Another  remarkable  circumffance  of  this  reftirution  of 
the  ilate  of  the  Jews  to  their  own  land  was,  that  it  was 
accompliflied  againfl  fo  much  oppofition  of  their  bitter 
indefatigable  enemies  the  Samaritans,  who,  for  a  long  time 
together,  with  all  the  malice  and  craft  thev  could  e.ercife, 
oppofed  the  Jews  in  this  affair,  and  fought  their  deftruc- 
tion  ;  one  while  by  Bifhlam,  Mithridath,  Tabeel,  Rahum, 
and  Shimlkiai,  [Ezra  iv.]  and  then  by  Tatnai,  Shethar- 
boznai,  and  their  companions,  [chap,  v.]  and  afterwards 
by  Sanballat  and  Tobiah,  as  wc  read  in  the  bock  of  Ne- 
hemiah. 

We  have  fhewed  before  how  the  fettlement  of  tb.e 
people  in  the,  land  in  Joihua's  time  promoted  the  work 
of  redemption.  On  the  fame  account  does  their  relii- 
tution  belong  to  the  fame  work.  The  re-fettlcment  of 
the  Jews  in  the  land  of  Canaan   belongs  to   this  work,  as 

it 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        277 

it  was  a  neceflary  means  of  preferving  the  Jewifli  church 
and  difpenfation  in  being,  till  Chrift  Ihould  come.  If 
it  had  not  been  for  this  reftoration  of  the  Jewifli  church, 
temple,  ;ind  worlliip,  the  people  had  remained  without 
any  temple,  and  land  of  their  own,  that  fliculd  be  as  it 
were  their  head-quarters,  a  place  of  worfliip,  habitation, 
and  refort ;  the  whole  conllitution,  which  God  had  done 
fo  much  to  eftabliili,  would  have  been  in  danger  of  utterly 
tailing,  long  before  that  fix  hundred  years  had  been  out, 
which  was  from  aboxit  the  time  of  the  captivity  till  Chrift. 
And  fo  all  that  preparation  which  God  had  been  making 
for  the  coming  of  Clirift,  from  the  time  of  Abraham, 
would  have  been  in  vain.  Now  that  very  temple  was 
built  that  God  would  fill  with  glory  by  Chrifl's  coming 
into  it,  as  the  prophets  Haggai  and  Zechariah  told  the 
Jews,  to  encourage  them  in  building  it. 

5.  The  next  particular  I  would  obferve,  is  the  addition 
made'/.o  the  canon  ot  the  fcriptures  foon  after  the  captivity 
by  the  prophets  Haggai  and  Zechariah,  who  were  fent  to 
encourage  the  people  in  their  work,  of  rebuilding  the  city 
and  temple  ;  and  the  main  argument  they  make  ufe  of  to 
that  end,  is  the  approach  of  the  time  of  the  coming  of 
Chrifl.  Haggai  foretold,  that  Chrifl;  Jhould  be  of  Zerub- 
babel's  legal  pofterity,  [chap.  ii.  23.]  This  feems  to  be 
one  of  the  lall:  and  moft  particular  revelations  of  the  de- 
fcent  of  Chrift,  till  the  angel  Gabriel  was  fent  to  reveal  it 
to  his  mother  Mary,    (g) 

6.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  was  the 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  accompanied  the 
ininiftry  of  Ezra  the  prieft  after  the  captivity.  Prefently 
after  Ezra  came  up  from  Babylon,  with  the  ample  com- 
mifiion  which  Artaxerxes  gave  him,  whence  Daniel's  fe- 
venty  weeks  began,  he  fet  himfelf  to  reform  the  vices 
and  corruptions  he  found  among  the  Jews ;  and  his  grent 

fuccefs 

(g)_  Uagg m  propkfied  of  Chryt]  «  Non  dubium  eft  Chrif- 
tum  hie  deiignari,  quia  hoc  nunquam  impletum  fuit  in  perfona 
Zorobabel."  /,  e.  There  is  no  doubt  but  Chrifl:  is  here  intended, 
becaufe  the  promife  never  was  fulHlIed  in  Zorobabel  perfpnally, 
[C.iLviNus.     Poli  Syn.  Crit.  in  loc] 


£78        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

fuccefs  in  it  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  xth  chapter  of 
Ezra  ;  fo  that  there  appeared  a  very  general  and  great 
mourning  of  the  congregation  of  Ifrael  for  their  fins, 
which  was  accompanied  with  a  folemn  covenant  thnt  the 
people  entered  into  with  God,  and  followed  with  a  great 
and  general  reformation.  And  the  people  about  the  fame 
time,  with  great  z,eal,  earneftnefs,  and  reverence,  gather- 
ed themfelves  together  to  hear  the  word  of  God  read  by- 
Ezra,  and  gave  diligent  attention,  while  Ezra  and  the 
other  priefts  preached  to  tliem,  by  reading  and  expound- 
ing the  law,  and  wsre  greatly  alfedted  in  the  Iv;aring  of 
it.    (h)      'I'hey  wept   when  they  heard  the  words  of  the 

law, 

(h)  Ezra  expounded  the  laiu.']  "  We  have  a  fhort,  but  beau- 
tiful defcription  of  the  manner  of  Ezra's  firft  preaching.  Upwards 
of  fifty  thoufand  people  afTembled  in  a  llreet,  or  large  fquare, 
near  the  Water-gate.  It  was  early  in  the  morning  of  a  fabbath 
day.  A  pulpit  of  wood,  in  the  faihion  of  a  fmall  tower,  was  placed 
there  on  purpofe  for  the  preacher,  and  this  turret  was  fupported 
by  a  fcaffold,  or  temporary  gallery,  where,  in  a  wing  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  pulpit,  lat  fix  of  the  principal  preachers,  and  in  ano- 
ther on  the  left  feven.  Thirteen  other  principal  teachers,  and 
many  Levites  were  prefent  alfo,  on  fcafiblds  crefted  for  the  pur- 
pofe, alternately  to  officiate.  When  Ezra  afccnded  the  pulpit,  he 
produced  and  opened  the  book  of  the  law,  and  the  vvliole  congre- 
gation inllantly  rofe  up  from  their  feats,  and  flood.  Then  he  of- 
fered up  prayer  and  pralfe  to  God,  the  people  bowing  their  heads, 
and  worfliipping  the  Lord  with  their  faces  to  the  ground  ;  and  at 
the  clofe  of  the  prayer,  with  uplifted  hands,  they  folemnly  pro- 
nounced Amen,  Amen.  Then.,  all  Handing,  Ezra,  aflifted  at 
times  by  the  Levites,  read  the  law  diftinttly,  gave  the  fenfe,  and 
caufed  them  to  uaJerftand  the  reading.  The  fermons  delivered 
lo  affeiSed  the  hearers,  that  >.hey  wept  exceflively,  and  about  noon 
the  forrovv  became  fo  exuberant  and  immealuiable,  that  it  was 
thought  neceffary  by  the  governor,  the  preacher,  and  the  Levites 
to  rcftrain  it.  They,  therefore,  reminded  the  congregation — that 
a  jufl;  grief  might  run  into  excefs — that  there  was  an  incongruity 
between  a  fciUval  and  a  lamentation — and  that  on  this  feilival, 
there  were  fingnlar  caufes  of  extraordinary  joy,  they  were  deli- 
vered from  captivity,  the  law  was  rellored,  and  they,  the  very 
pooreft  of  them,  had  been  made  by  the  preachers  to  underftand 
it.  Go  your  way,  faid  they,  eat  the  fat" — drink  the  fwect — fend 
portions  unto  them,  for  whom  nothing  is  prepared.  Be  not  dif- 
couraged — religi  ..is  joy  is  a  people's  ftrength.  The  wife  and 
benevolent  fentiments  of  thefe  noble  fouls  were  imbibed  by  the 

whole 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.       279 

law,  and  fet  themfelvcs  to  obferve  the  law,  and  kept  the 
i'ead  of  tabernacles,  as  the  fcripture  obfervcs,  after  fuch 
a  manner  as  it  had  not  been  kept  fince  the  days  of  Jortiua 
the  fon  of  Nun.  [Nchcm.  vili.]  And  after  this,  having 
leparated  themielves  from  all  ftrangers,  they  folemnly  ob- 
ferved  a  fall,  by  hearing  the  word  of  God,  confefTing  their 
lins,  and  renewing  their  covenant  with  God  ;  and  mani- 
fefted  their  fincerity  in  that  tranfadion,  by  adually  re- 
forming many  abufes  in  religion  and  morals.  [See  Nehem. 
ixth  and  following  chapters.] 

It  is  obfervable,  that  it  has  been  God's  manner,  in 
every  new  eftabliihment  of  the  ftate  of  his  vifible  church, 
to  give  a  remarkable  out-pouring  of  his  Spirit.  So  it 
was  on  the  firft  efliablifhment  of  the  church  of  the  Jews 
at  their  coming  into  Canaan  under  Jofluia,  as  has  been 
obferved  ;  and  fo  it  was  now  in  this  fccond  fettlement 
of  the  church  in  the  fame  land  in  the  time  of  Ezra  ; 
and  fo  it  was  on  the  lirfl:  eftablifhment  of  the  Chriilian 
church  after  Chrift's  refurreaion  ;  God  wifely  and  gra- 
cioufly  laying  the  foundation  of  thofe  cftabliihments  in 
a  work  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  for  the  lafting  beneHt  of  the 
flate  of  his  church,  thenceforward  continued  in  thofe 
eftablifhments.  And  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  was  a  final  cure  to  that  nation  of  that  particular 
iin,  which  juft  before  they  efpecially  run  into,  viz.  in- 
termarrying with  the  Gentiles ;  for  however  inclined  to 
it  they  were  before,  they  ever  after  fliewed  an  averiion 
to  it, 

7.  Ezra  added  to  the  canon  of  fcriptures.  He  wrote 
the  book  of  Ezra  ;  and  he  is  fuppofed  to  have  written 
the  two  books  of  Chronicles,  at  leaft  to  have  compiled 

them, 

whole  congregation,  and  fifty  thoufand  troubled  hearts  were  calm- 
ed in  an  inllant.  Home  they  returned  to  eat,  to  drink,  to  fend 
portions,  and  to  make  mirth,  becaule  they  had  underftood  the 
words  that  were  declared  unto  them.  Plato  was  alive  at  this  time, 
teaching  dull  philofophy  to  cold  academicks :  but  what  was  he, 
and  what  was  Xenophon,  or  Demollhenes,  or  any  of  tlie  pagan 
orators,  in  comparifon  with  thefe  men?"  [Robinson's  Eflay^'on 
Preaching,  prefixed  to  his  tranflation  of  Claude's  EiTay,  vol.  i 
page  xxii — xxiv,  j 


28o        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

them,  if  he  was  not  the  author  of  the  materials.  That 
thefe  books  were  written,  or  compiled  or  completed,  after 
the  captivity,  the  things  therein  contained  manifeft  ;  for 
the  genealogies  are  brought  down  below  the  captivity  ; 
[i  Chron.  iii.  17,  &c.]  We  have  there  an  account  of  the 
pofterity  of  Jehoiachin  for  feveral  fucccfiive  generations. 
And  there  is  mention  in  thefe  books  of  this  captivity  into 
Babylon,  as  of  a  thing  pafl:,  and  of  things  that  were  done 
on  the  return  of  the  Jews  after  the  captivity  ;  as  you  may 
fee  in  the  ixth  chapter.  The  chapter  is  moftly  filled  up 
with  an  account  of  things  that  came  to  pafs  after  the  cap- 
tivity into  Babylon,  as  you  may  fee  by  comparing  it  with 
what  is  faid  in  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah.  And 
that  Ezra  was  the  perfon  that  compiled  thefe  books,  is 
probable  by  this,  bccaufe  they  conclude  with  words  that 
we  know  are  the  words  of  Ezra's  hiftory.  The  two  laft 
verfes  of  2  Chron.  are  tJic  two  tirll:  verfes  of  the  book  of 
Ezra. 

8.  Ezra  is  fuppofed  to  have  collefted  all  the  books  of 
which  the  holy  fcriptures  did  then  confift,  and  difpofed 
them  in  their  proper  order.  Ezra  is  often  fpoken  of  as  a 
noted  and  eminent  fcribe  of  the  law  of  God,  and  the  ca- 
non of  fcripture  in  his  time  was  manifeftly  under  his  fpe- 
cial  care ;  and  the  Jews,  from  the  firft  accounts  we  have 
from  them,  have  always  held,  that  the  canon  of  fcripture, 
fo  much  of  it  as  was  then  extant,  was  colle6led,  and  or- 
derly difpofed  and  fettled  by  Ezra  ;"  and  that  from  hira 
they  have  delivered  it  down  in  the  order  in  which  he  dif- 
pofed it,  till  Ciirift's  time ;  when  the  Chriflian  church 
received  it  from  them,  and  have  delivered  it  down  to  our 
times.  And  the  truth  of  this  is  allowed  as  undoubted  by 
divines  in  general,   (i) 

9.  The 


(i)  The  CANON  offcripturz  compiled ly  E%ra.'\  **  It  is  gene- 
rally received,  that  after  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  their  capti- 
vity in  Babylon,  all  the  books  of  fcripture  having  been  revifed  by 
Ezra  (then  their  prieft  and  leader)  who  digefted  them  ....  were 
by  him  and  the  prophets  of  God  that  lived  with  him,  configned 
and  delivered  over  to  all  pofterity. '■"  [Bp.  Cosin's  ScholalUc. 
Hift.  of  the  Canon  of  Scripture,] 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        281 

o.  The  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  and  pro- 
moted in  this  period,  by  greatly  multiplying  the  copies  of 
the  law,  and  appointing  the  conftant  public  reading  of 
them  in  all  the  cities  of  Ifracl  in  their  fynagogues.  It 
is  evident,  that  before  the  captivity  there  were  but  few 
of  them.  There  was,  indeed,  the  original,  laid  up  be- 
fide  the  ark  ;  and  the  kings  were  required  to  write  out  a 
copy  of  it  for  their  own  ufe,  and  it  was  commanded  to 
be  read  to  the  whole  congregation  of  Ifrael  once  every 
fevcnth  year.  And  we  have  no  account  of  any  other 
flated  public  reading  of  the  law  before  the  captivity  but 
this.  It  is  manifeft,  by  feveral  things  that  might  be  men- 
tioned, that  copies  of  the  law  were  then  exceedingly 
rare;  but  after  the  captivity,  the  conftant  reading  of  it 
was  fet  up  in  every  fynagogue  throughout  thel  and.  Firfi:, 
they  begali  \vith  reading  the  law,  and  then  they  proceed- 
ed to  eftabliflr  the  conftant  reading  of  the  other  books 
of  the  Old  Teftament.  Leflbns  were  read  out  of  the 
Old  Teftament,  both  from  the  law  and  the  other  parts 
of  the  fcriptilre  then  extant,  in  all  the  fynagogues  which 
were  fet  up  in  every  city  and  place  where  the  Jews  in. 
any  confiderable  number  dwelt.  Thus  wc  find  it  was  in 
Chrift   and  the  apoftles'  time.   [A6fs  xv.  21.]   '  Mofes  of 

*  old  time  hath  in   every  city  them   that  preach  him,  be- 

*  ing  read  in  the  fynagogues  every  fabbath  day.'  This 
cuftom  is  univerfally  fuppofed,  both  by  Jews  and  Chrif- 
tians,  to  be  begun  by  Ezra.  There  were,  doubtlefs,  pub- 
lic aflcmblies  before  the  captivity.  They  ufed  to  aflemble 
at  the  temple  at  their  great  feafts,  and  were  dire6led, 
when  they  were  at  a  lofs  about  any  thing  in  the  law,  to 
go  to  the  prieft  of  inftru6tion  ;  and  they  ufed  alfo  to  refort 
to  the  prophets  houfes  ;  and  we  read  of  fynagogues  in 
the  land  before,  [Pfalm  Ixxiv.  8.]  but  it  is  not  fuppofed 
that  they  then  had  copies  of  the  law  for  conftant  public 
reading  and  expounding  through  the  land  as  afterwards. 
This  was  one  great  means  of  their  being  preferved  from 
idolatry,    (k) 

10.  The 

(k)  The  or'ig'm  0/^  synagogues.]  "  We  read  of  fynagogues, 
indeed,  in  the  Pfalms ;  but  Dean  Prideaux  was  of  opinion  that 

O  o  the 


282        HISTORY  OF   REDEMPTION. 

10.  The  next  thing  I  would  mention,  is  God's  remark- 
ably preferving  the  church  and  nation  of  the  Jews,  when 
they  were  in  imminent  danger  of  being  univerfally  dc- 
flroyed  by  Haman.  We  have  the  ftory  in  the  book  of 
Efther,  with  which  you  are  acquainted.  This  ferics  of 
providences  was  very  wonderful  in  preventing  this  deftruc- 
tion.  Efther  was  doubtlefs  born  for  this  end  to  be  the 
inftrument  of  this  remarkable  prefervation.    (l) 

11.  After  this  the  canon  of  fcripture  was  farther  en- 
larged in  the  books  of  Nehemiah  and  Efther  ;  the  one 
by  Nehemiah  himfclf ;  and  whether  the  other  was  written 
by  Nehemiah,  or  Mordccai,  or  Malachi,  is  not  of  im- 
portance for  us  to  know,  fo  long  as  it  is  one  of  thofe 
books  that  were  always  admitted  and  received  as  a  part 
of  their  canon  by  the  Jews,  and  was  among  thofe  that 
the  Jews  called  their  fcriptures  in  Chrifl's  time,  and  fuch 
as  was  approved  by  him.  For  Chrift  does  often,  in  his 
fpeeches  to  the  Jews,  manifeftly  approve  and  confirm 
thofe  books,  which  amongft  them  went  by  the  name  of 
the  fcriptures^  as  might  eafily  be  lliown,  if  there  were  time 
for  it.   (m) 

12.  After 

the  word  [nyiD]  which  fignifies  any  aflemblles,  there  intends  ra- 
ther the profeucha,  open  courts  where  the  people  met  to  pray,  each 
for  himfelf,  than  proper  fynagogues. 

"  The  fervice  of  the  fynagogues  confifted  of  prayers,  reading, 
and  expoundirfg  or  preaching,  and  it  is  thought  that  their  whole 
fervice  was  conduced  in  a  manner  fimilar  to  that  of  our  parifh 
churches. — And  this  inftitution  feems  to  be  preferved  among 
them,  with  little  variation,  to  the  prefcnt  day."  [See  Prideaux's 
Connect,  part  i.  book  6.] 

(l)  Tie  'Jenvs  delivered  from  Haman'j  cruelty.']  "  There  is 
hardly  any  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teftament,  (except  the  life^of  Jo- 
feph)  that  more  difplays  the  myfteries  of  divine  Providence,  than 
the  book  of  Efther ;  particularly,  we  may  obferve  the  extremity 
to  which  God  fuffered  his  people  to  be  driven  ;  and  the  wonder- 
ful manner  in  which  he  delivered  them  by  bringing  all  the  cruel- 
ties of  wicked  Haman  on  his  own  head.  The  Jews  efteemed  this 
book  in  value  next  to  the  Pentateuch,  and  in  memory  of  the  fal- 
yatlon  herein  recorded,  keep  the  feall  of  Purim  to  this  day."  [See 
Stackhoufe\}ri{\k.  of  the  Bible,  book  vil.  chap.  2.] 

(m)  Chkist  cotifirmed the  Old  Tejlament.']  *  Search  the  fcrlp- 
'  tares,' — /.  e.  of  the  Old  Teftament,  for  no  part  of  the  New 

was 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        283 

12.  After  this  the  canon  of  the  Old  Teftament  was 
compleated  and  fealcd  by  Mnlachi.  The  manner  of  con- 
cluding this  prophecy  feems  to  imply,  that  they  were 
to  expedl  no  more  prophecies,  nor  any  more  written  re- 
velations from  God,  till  Chrifl  fliould  come.  For  in  the 
laft  chapter  he  prophefies  of  Chrift's  coming  ;   [ver.  2,  3.] 

*  But   unto  you   that   fear    my   name,    fhall  the    Sun    of 

*  righteoufnefs  arife  with  healing  in  his  wings ;  and  ye 

*  fhall  go  forth  and  grow  up  as  calves  of  the  flail.     And 

<  he  fliall  tread  down  the   wicked  ;  for  they   fhall  be  as 

<  aflies   under  the  foles  of  your  feet,  in  the  day   that  I 

<  {hall  do  this,  faith  the  Lord  of  hofls.'  Then  we  read 
in  ver.  4.  *  Remember  ye  the  law  of  Mofes  my  fervant 

*  which  I  commanded  unto. him  in  Horeb  for  all  Ifrael, 

*  with  the  ftatutes  and  judgments,'  /.  e.  Remember  and 
improve  what  ye  have  ;  keep  clofe  to  that  written  rule 
you  have,  as  expecting  no  more  additions  to  it,  till  the 
Old  Teftament  is  over,  and  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs  fliall 
at  length  arife. 

13.  Soon  after  this,  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed 
among  that  people  till  the  time  of  the  New  Teftament. 
Thus  the  Old  Teftament  lights,  the  ftars  of  the  long 
night,  began  a  pace  to  hide  their  heads,  the  time  of  the 
Sun  of  righteoufnefs  now  drawing  nigh.  We  before 
obferved,  how  the  Kings  of  the  houfe  of  David  ceafed 
before  the  true  king  and  head  of  the  church  came  ;  and 
how  the  cloud  of  glory  withdrew,  before  Chrift,  the 
brightnefs  of  the  Father's  glory,  appeared  ;  and  fo  as  to 
fevcral  other  things.  And  now  at  laft  the  fpirit  of  pro- 
phecy ceafed.  The  time  of  the  great  Prophet  of  God 
was  now  fo  nigh,  it  was  time  for  their  typical  prophets 
to  be  filent. 

WE  have  now  gone  through  with  the  time  that  we 
have  any  hiftorical  account  of  in  the  writings  of  the  Old 

O  o  2  Tefta- 


was  written  till  fome  time  after  our  Lord's  death,-^*  for  in  them 

*  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life,  and  they  are  they  that  teltify  of 

•  me.'  [John  v.  39.  fee  alfo  ver.  46,  and  Luke  xvi.  29.  j 


284        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

Teftament,  and  the  laft  thing  that  was  mentioned,  by 
which  the  work  of  redemption  was  promoted,  was  the 
ceafing  of  the  fpirit  of  prophecy. 

I  now  proceed  to  Hiow  how  the  work  of  redemption 
was  carried  on  through  the  remaining  times  that  were 
before  Chrift  :  in  which  we  have  not  that  thread  of  fcrip- 
ture  hiftory  to  guide  ns  which  we  have  had  hitherto  ; 
but  we  have  thefe  three  things  to  dire£t  us,  viz.  the  pro- 
phecies of  the  Old  Teftament,  human  hiftories  of  thofe 
times,  and  fome  occafional  mention  made  of  things  which 
then  happened,  in  the  books  ot  the  New  Teftament. 
Therefore, 

14.  The  next  particular  that  I  fhall  mention  under  this 
period,  is  the  deftrudlion  of  the  Perfian  empire,  and  fetting 
up  of  the  Grecian  empire  by  Alexander.  This  came  to 
pafs  about  fixty  or  feventy  years  after  the  times  wherein 
the  prophet  Malachi  is  fuppofed  to  have  prophefied,  and 
about  three  hundred  and  thirty  years  before  Chrifl:.  This 
■was  the  third  overturning  of  the  world  that  came  to  pafs 
in  this  period,  and  was  greater  and  more  remarkable  than 
either  of  the  foregoing.  It  was  very  remarkable  on  ac- 
count of  the  fuddenneis  of  that  conqueft  of  the  world 
which  Alexander  made,  and  the  greatnefs  of  the  empire 
which  he  fet  up,  which  much  exceeded  all  the  foregoing 
in  its  extent. 

This  event  is  much  fpoken  of  in  the  propliecies  of 
Daniel.  This  empire  is  reprefented  by  the  third  king- 
dom of  brafs  in  Daniel's  interpretation  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar's dream,  [Dan.  ii.]  and  in  Daniel's  vifion  of  the 
four  bcafts  is  intended  by  the  third  beaft  that  was  like 
a  leopard,  tl\at  had  on  his  back  four  wings  of  a  fowl, 
to  reprefent  the  fwiftnefs  of  its  conqueft,  [chap,  vii.]  and 
is  more  particularly  reprefented  by  the  he-goat,  [chap, 
viii.]  '  that  came  from  the  weft  on  the  face  of  the  whole 
*  earth,  and  touched  not  the  grounc],'  to  reprefent  ho\y 
fwiftly  Alexander  over-ran  the  world.  The  an<Tel  himfelf 
docs  exprefsly  interpret  this  hc-goat  to  fignify  the  king  of 
Grecia,  [ver.  21.]  '  The  rough  goat  is  the  king  of  Grccia  ; 

an4 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        285 

*  and  the  great  horn  that  is  between  his  eyes  is  the  firft 
<  king,'  i.e.  Alexander  himfelf.   (n) 

After 

(n)  The  v'lfwn  of  the  Gokr  and  of  the  h'£.ov.\KU.~\  "  K  goat  li 
very  properly  made  the  type  of  the  Grecian  or  Macedonian  empire, 
becaufe  .  .  .  Caranus,  their  firft  king,  going  with  a  great  multitude 
of  Greeks  to  feek  new  habitations  in  Macedonia,  was  commanded 
by  the  oracle  to  take  the  goats  for  his  guides  to  empire:  and  after- 
wards feeing  a  herd  of  goats  flying  from  a  violent  ftorm,  he  fol- 
lowed them  to  EdefTa,  and  there  fixed  his  feat  of  empire,  made  the 
goats  his  enfigns  or  ftandards,  and  called  the  city  Egeas  or  the  goat's 
town,  and  tlie  people  Egeadas  or  the  goat's  people.  And  to  this 
may  be  added  that  the  city  Egeae  or  Egse  was  the  ufual  burylng- 
place  of  the  Macedonian  kings*  It  is  alfo  very  remarkable,  that 
Alexander's  fon  by  Roxana  was  named  Alexander  jEgus,  or  the  fon 
of  the  goat;  and  fome  of  Alexander's  fucceffors  are  reprefented  in 
their  coins  with  goat's  horns.  This  '  he-goat  came  from  the  weft  ;* 
and  who  is  ignorant  that  Europe  lieth  weftward  of  Afia?  He  came 
on  the  face  of  the  whole  earth,  carrying  every  thing  before  him  in 
all  the  three  parts  of  the  world  then  known;  '  and  he  touched  not 

*  the  ground,'  his  marches  were  fo  fwlft  and  his  conquefts  fo  rapid, 
that  he  might  be  faid  in  a  manner  to  fly  over  the  ground  without 
touching  it.  For  the  fame  reafon  the  fame  empire  in  the  former  vi- 
fion  was  likened  to  z  leopard^  which  is  a  fwift,  nimble  animal,  and  to 
denote  the  greater  quickncfs  and  Impetuofity,  to  a  leopard  with  four 
•wings.  '  And  the  goat  had  a  notable  horn  between  his  eyes:'  this 
horn,  faith  the  angel,  is  the  firft  king,  or  kingdom  of  the  Greeks  in 
Afia,  which  was  erefted  by  Alexander  the  Great,  and  continued  for 
fome  years  in  his  brother  PhlHp  Arldsus,  and  his  two  young  fons. 

**  In  the  two  next  verfes  (6,  7.)    we  have   an  account  of  the 
Grecians   overthrowing  the  Pcrfian    empire.      *  And  he  came  to 

*  the  ram  that  had  two  horns,  which  I  had  fecn  ftanding  before  the 

*  river,  and  ran  unto  him  in  the  fury  of  his  power.'  One  can 
hardly  read  thefe  words  without  having  fome  image  of  Darius's 
army  ftanding  and  guarding  the  river  Granicus,  and  of  Alexander 
on  the  other  fide  with  his  forces  plunging  in,  fwlmming  acrofs  the 
ftream,  and  ruft\ing  on  the  enemy  with  all  the  fire  and  fury  that 
can  be  imagined.  .  .  .  '  And  I  faw  him  come  clofe  unto  the  ram:* 
he  had  feveral  clofe  engagements  with  the  king  of  Perfia.     *  And 

*  he  was  moved  with  choler  agalnft  him,'  for  the  cruelties  which 
the  Perfians  had  excrcifed  towards  the  Grecians:  and  for  Darius's 
attempting  to  corrupt  fometimes  his  foldiers  to  betray  him,  and 
fometimes  his  friends  to  deftroy  him  ;  fo  that  he  would  not  liften 
to  the  raoft  advantageous  offers  of  peace.     *  And  he   fmote  the 

*  ram,  and  brake  his  two  horns:'  he  fubdued  Perfia  and  Media, 
with  the  other  provinces  and  kingdoms  of  the  Perfian  empire:  .  .  . 
and  in  Media,  Darius  was  feized  and  made  a  prifoner  by  fome  of  his 

o\yn 


286        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

After  Alexander  had  conquered  the  world,  he  foon 
died,  and  his  dominion  did  not  defcend  to  his  pofterity, 
but  four  of  his  principal  captains  divided  his  empire 
between  them,  as  it  there  follows.  Now  that  being 
broken,    whereas  four  flood  up  for  it,    '  four   kingdoms 

*  lliall  ftand  up  out  of  the  nation,  but  not  in  his  power;' 
fo  you  may  fee  in  the  xith  chapter  of  Daniel.  The 
angel,  after  foretelling  of  the  Perfian  empire,  then  pro- 
ceeds to  foretell  of  Alexander,    [ver.  3.]   '  And  a  mighty 

*  king  fliall  ftand    up,    that  fhall   rule  with  great  domi- 

*  nion,  and  do  according  to  his  will.'  And  then  he 
foretells,  [ver.  4th.]  of  the  dividing  of  his  kingdom, 
between  his  four  captains;    '    And  when  he   fhall   ftand 

*  up,  his  kingdom  (hall  be  broken,  and  Ihall  be  divided 

*  toward  the   four  winds  of  heaven ;   and  not  to  his  pof- 

*  terity,   nor  according  to  his  dominion  which  he  ruled:  for 

*  his  kingdom  ftiall  be  plucked  up,  even  for  others  befides 

*  thofe.'  Two  of  thefe  four  captains,  whofe  kingdoms 
w^ere  next  to  Judea,  the  one  had  Egypt  and  the  neigh- 
bouring countries  on  the  fouth  of  Judea,  and  the  other 
had  Syria  and  the  neighbouring  countries  north  of  Ju- 
dea ;  and  thefe  two  are  thofe  that  are  called  the  kings 
of  the  north  and  of  the  louth  in  the  xith  chapter  of  Da- 
niel, (o) 

Now, 

own  traitor  fubjedls,  who  not  long  after  bafely  murdered  him.  *  And 

*  there  was  no  power  in  the  ram  to  Hand  before  him,  but  he  caft 

*  him  down  to  the  ground,  and  ftamped  upon  him ;'  he  conquered 
wherever  he  came,  routed  all  the  forces,  took  all  the  cities  and  caf- 
tles,  and  entirely  fubverted  and  ruined  the  Perfian  empire.      *  And 

*  there  was  none  that  could  dc4iverthe  ram  out  of  his  hand;'  not 
even  his  numerous  armies  conid  defend  the  king  of  Perfia,  though 
his  forces  in  the  battle  of  IlTus  amounted  to  600,000  men,  and  in 
that  of  Arbela  to  ten  or  eleven  hundred  thoufand,  whereas  the 
whole  number  of  Alexander's  was  not  more  than  47,000  Jn  either 
engagement.  So  true  is  the  obfervation  of  the  Pfalmift,  (xxxiii. 
16.)  '  There  is  no  king  faved  by  tlie  multitude  of  an  hoft:'  and 
efpecially  when  God  hath  decreed  the  fall  of  empires,  then  even 
the  greatefl  muft  fall.  The  fortune  of  Alexander,  of  which  fo 
much  hath  been  faid,  ....  was  nothing  but  the  providence  of 
God."      [Bp.  Newton  on  the  prophecies,  vol.  ii.  difTert  15.] 

(o)   Alexander'' s  empire   divided.]     *'  The  empire  of  the  goat 
was  in  its  full  ftrength  when  Alexander  died  of  a  fever  at  Babylon. 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        287 

Now,  this  fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire  did  greatly 
prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming,  and  creeling  his 
kingdom  in  the  world.  Bcfides  thefe  ways  common  to 
the  other  overturnings  of  the  world  in  this  period,  that 
have  been  already  mentioned,  there  is  one  peculiar  to 
this  revolution  which  I  would  take  notice  of,  which  did 
remarkably  promote  the  work  of  redemption  ;  and  thit 
was,  that  it  made  the  Greek  language  common  in  the  world. 
To  have  one  common  language  underftood  and  ufed 
through  the  greater  part  of  die  world,  was  a  thing  that 
did  greatly  prepare  the  way  for  the  fetting  up  of  Ciirift's 
kingdom.  This  gave  advantage  for  fpreading  the  gofpel 
from  one  nation  to  another,  and  fo  through  all  nations, 
with  vaftly  greater  eafe,  than  if  every  nation  had  a  diflinft 
language,  and  did  not  underftand  any  other.  For 
though  fome  of  the  hrll:  preachers  of  the  gofpel  had  the 
gift  of  languages,  fo  that  they  could  preach  in  any  lan- 
guage ;  yet  all  had  not  this  particular  gift ;  and  they  that 
had,  could  not  exercife  it  when  they  would,  but  only  at 

fpecial 

He  was  fuccecded  In  the  throne  by  his  natural  brother  Philip  Ari- 
daeus,  and  by  his  own  two  fons,  Alexander  iEgus  and  Hercules  : 
but  in  the  fpace  of  about  fifteen  years  they  were  all  murdered,  and 
then  the  firll  horn  or  kingdom  was  entirely  broken..  The  royal 
family  being  thus  extinft,  the  governors  of  provinces,  who  had 
ufurped  the  power,  aflumed  the  title  of  kings  ;  and  by  the  defeat 
and  death  of  Antigonus  in  the  battle  of  Ipfus,  they  were  reduced 
to  four,  CafTander,  Lyfimachus,  Ptolemy,  and  Seleucus,  who  parted 
Alexander's  dominions  between  them,  and  divided  and  fettled  them 
into  four  kingdoms.  Thefe  four  kingdoms  are  xhefour  notable  horns 
which  came  up  in  the  room  of  the  firft  great  horn ;  and  are  the  fame 
2k^\.\\Q  four  heads  of  the  leopard  in  the  former  vifion.      *  Four  king- 

*  doms  fhall  ftand  up  out  of  the  nation,  but  not  in  his  power;'  they 
were  to  be  kingdoms  of  Greeks,  not  of  Alexander's  own  family, 
but  only  of  his  nation ;  and  neither  were  they  to  be  equal  to  him  in 
power  and  dominion,  as  an  empire  united  is  certainly  more  power- 
ful than  the  fame  empire  divided,  and  the  whole  is  greater  than 
any  of  the  parts.     They  were  likewife  to  extend  '  toward  the 

*  four  winds  of  heaven  :'  and  in  the  partition  of  the  empire,  Caf- 
fandcr  held  Macedon,  and  Greece,  and  the  weftern  parts  ;  Lyfi- 
machus had  Thrace,  Bithynia,  and  the  northern  regions;  Ptolemy 
pofiefTed  Egypt,  and  the  fouthern  countries;  and  Seleucus  obtained 
Syria,  and  the  eaftern  provinces."  [Kp-  Ni- wton  on  the  Prophe- 
cies, vol.  ii.  dlfTert.  15.J 


288         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fpecial  feafons,  \vhen  the  Spirit  of  God  was  pleated  to  in- 
fpire  them    in   this  way.      And  the  church   in   different 
parts  of  the  world,    as  the  churches   of  Jerufalcm,  An- 
tioch,  Galatia,  Corinth,  and  others,  which  were  in  coun- 
tries diftant  one  from  another,  could  not  have  had  that 
communication   one   with    another,    which    we    have   an 
account  of  in  the  book  of  A£ls,  if  they  had  had  no  com- 
mon language.      So  it  was  before  the    Grecian    empire 
was  fet  up.     But  after  this,  many  in  all  thefe  countries 
well   tinderftood   the    fame    language,    viz.    the    Greek  ; 
which  wonderfully  opened  the  door  for  mutual  communi- 
cation  between  thofe  churches,  fo  far  feparated  one  from 
another.     And  again,    the    making   the    Greek  language 
common  through  fo  great  a  part  of  the  world,  did  won- 
derfully make   way    for  the    fctting  up  of   the  kingdom 
of  Chrifl,  becaufe  it  was  the  language  in  which  the  New 
Teftament  was    to   be  originally  written.     The  apoftles 
propagated   the    gofpel  through  many  fcores  of  nations ; 
and   if   they    could    not   have   underftood   the   Bible    any 
otherwife    than    as    it   was    tranflated    into    fo  many  lan- 
guages, it  would  have  rendered  the  fpreading  of  the  gofpel 
vaftly  more  difficult.     But  by  the  Greek   language   being 
made  common  to  all,  they  all  underftood  the  New  Tefta- 
ment of  Jefus  Chrift  in  the  language  in  which  the  apoftles 
and  evangelifts  originally  wrote  it :  fo  that  as  foon  as  ever 
it  was  written  by  its  original  penmen,  it  immediately  lay 
open  to  the  world  in  a  language  that  was  commonly  un- 
derftood. 

15.  The  next  thing  I  flnall  take  notice  of,  is  the 
tranflation  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament  into 
the  Greek  language,  which  is  commonly  called  the  Sep- 
tuagint,  or  the  tranflation  of  the  Seventy,  This  is  fup- 
pofed  to  have  been  made  about  fifty  or  fixty  years  after 
Alexander's  conquering  the  world.  This  is  the  firft 
tranflation  that  ever  was  made  of  the  fcriptures  that  we 
have  any  credible  account  of.  The  canon  of  the  Old 
Teflament  had  been  completed  by  tlie  prophet  Malachi 
but  about  an  hundred  and  twenty  -years  before  in  its 
original  ;    and  hitherto  the  fcriptures  had  remained  locked 

up 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        289 

up  from  all  other  nations  but  the  Jews,  in  the  Hebrew 
tongue,  which  was  nnderftood  by  no  other  nation.  But 
now  it  was  tranflated  into  the  Greek  language,  which,  as 
we  obferved  before,  was  a  language  commonly  underflood 
by  the  nations  of  the  world. 

This  tranflation  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  ftill  extant, 
and  is  commonly  in  the  hands  of  learned  men  in  thefe 
daysj  and  is  made  great  ufe  of  by  them.  The  Jews  bave 
many  fables  about. the  occafion  and  manner  of  this  tranf- 
lation ;  but  the  truth  of  the  cafe  is  fuppofed  to  be  this,  that 
multitudes  of  the  Jews  living  in  other  parts  of  the  world 
befides  Judea,  and  being  born  and  bred  among  the  Greeks, 
the  Greek  became  their  common  language,  and  they  did 
not  unckrrtand  the  original  Hebrew  ;  and  therefore  they 
procured  the  fcriptures  to  be  tranflated  for  their  ufe  into 
the  Greek  language  :  and  fo  henceforward  the  Jews,  in 
all  countries,  except  Judea,  were  wont  in  their  fyna- 
aogues  to  make  ufe  of  this  tranflation  inftead  of  the  He- 
brew,  (p) 

This  tranflation  of  the  fcriptures  into  a  language  com- 
monly underftiood  through  the  world,  prepared  the  way 
for  Chrifli's  coming,  and  fetting  up  his  kingdom  in  the 
world,  and  afterwards  did  greatly  promote  it.  For  as  the 
apoflles  went    preaching   through   the  world,  they    made 

P  p  great 

(p)  T/j^Septuagint /ra/2/7i7//o«.]  It  is  "  almoft  unanimoufly 
admitted,  that  about  300  years  before  the  advent  of  Jefus  Chriit, 
a  Greek  tranflation  of  the  Old  TeRaincnt  was  made  at  Alcxan- 
dria,  for  the  ufe  of  the  .  .  .  Jews  .  .  .  fettled  there  ....  the  far 
greater  part  of  whoai  had  loft  their  native  language — That  at  firft. 
the  five  books  of  Mofes  only  were  tranflated,  becaufe  they  were 
tlie  only  books  which  were  then  read  in  the  fynagogues — That 
after  tlie  tyrannies  of  Antiocluis  Epiphanes,  the  reading  of  the 
prophecies  being  then  introduced,  the  prophecies  were  alio  tranf- 
lated— That  this  verfion  was  fpread  through  all  thofe  parts  of  the 
world  where  the  Greek  language  was  ufed,  or  where  Jews  dwelt 
— And  that  the  apolllcs,  preaching  the  gofpelin  the  kaown  parts 
of  the  world,  m.adc  ufe  of  [this]  verfion — and  that  this  verfion 
was  one  of  the  preparations  which  Providence  had  employed  tor 
the  call  of  the  Gentiles."  Saurin's  Sermons,  tranflated  by  Ro- 
blnfon,  vol.  iii.  p.  147,  8.  For  a  fuller  account  of  this  verfion  fee 
Prukaiix'%  Conncft.  part  2.  book  i.] 


igo        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

great  ufe  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament,  and  efpe-» 
cially  of  the  prophecies  concerning  Chrift  contained  in 
tliem.  And  by  means  of  this  tranflation,  and  by  the  Jews 
being  fcattered  every  where,  they  had  the  fcriptures  at 
hand  in  a  language  that  was  underflood  by  the  Gentiles : 
and  they  principally  made  ufe  of  this  tranflation  in  their 
preaching  and  writings  wherever  they  Wefit ;  as  is  evident 
by  this,  that  in  all  the  quotations  that  are  made  out  of 
the  Old  Teftament  in  their  writings,  they  are  almoft  every 
where  in  the  very  words  of  the  Septuagint  ;  they  being 
both  written  in  the  fame  language.  This  makes  it  evident, 
that  the  apoftles,  in  their  preaching  and  writings,  com- 
monly made  ufe  of  this  tranflation.  So  this  very  tranf- 
lation was  that  which  was  principally  ufed  in  Chriflian 
churches  through  moft  nations  of  the  world  for  feveral 
hundred  years  after  Chrift. 

i6i  The  next  thing  is  the  wonderful  prcfervation  of  the 
church  when  it  was  imminently  threatened  and  perfecuted 
under  the  Grecian  empire. 

The  firfl:  time  they  were  threatened  was  by  Alexander 
himfelf.  When  he  was  befieging  the  city  of  Tyre,  fend- 
ing to  the  Jew^s  for  aflifl:ance  and  fupplies  for  his  army, 
and  they  refufing,  out  of  a  confcientious  regard  to  their 
oath  to  the  king  of  Perfia,  he  being  a  man  of  very  furi- 
ous fpirit,  agreeable  to  the  fcripture  reprefentation  of  the 
rough  he-goat,  marched  againfl:  them,  with  a  defign  to  cut 
them  oil".  But  the  priefts  going  out  to  meet  him  in  prieftly 
garments,  when  he  met  them,  God  wonderfully  turned  his 
heart  to  fpare  and  favour  them,  much  as  he  did  the  heart 
of  Efau  when  he  inet  Jacob.  (  q^) 

After 

(q^)  Alexander  /pared  the  Jeivs.']  "  The  high  priefl  in  tliii 
imminent  danger  had  recourfe  to  God  by  facrifices  and  fupplica- 
tions  ;  and  as  he  was  diredted  in  a  vifion  in  the  night,  lie  went 
forth  the  next  day  in  his  pontifical  robes,  with  all  the  priefl s  in 
their  habits,  and  tlie  jx^ople  in  white  apparel,  to  meet  the  con- 
queror, and  to  make  their  fubmlfllons  to  him.  As  foon  as  the 
king  favv  the  high  prieit  coming  to  him  in  this  folemn  proceflion, 
he  advanced  eagerly  to  meet  him,  and  bowing  down  himfelf  he- 
lore  him,  received  him  with  religious  awe  and  veneration.     All 

prefent 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        291 

After  this,  one  of  the  kings  of  Egypt,  a  fucceflbr  of  one 
of  Alexander's  four  captains,  entertained  a  defign  of  de- 
ftrnying  the  nations  of  the  Jews  ;  but  was  remarkably  and 
xvonderfully  prevented  by  a  ftrong  intcrpofitlon  of  Heaven 
for  their  prefervation. 

But  the  moft  wonderful  prefervation  of  them  all  in 
this  period,  was  under  the  cruel  perfecution  of  Antio- 
chus  Epiphanes,  king  of  Syria,  and  fucceflbr  of  another 
of  Alexander's  four  captains.  The  Jews  were  at  that 
time  fubje6l  to  the  power  of  Antiochus ;  and  he  being 
enraged  againfl:  them,  long  ftrove  to  his  utmoft  utterly  to 
deftroy  them,  and  root  them  out  ;  at  leaft  all  of  them 
that  would  not  forfake  their  religion,  and  worlhip  his 
idols  :  and  he  did  indeed  in  a  great  meafure  wafte  the 
country,  and  depopulate  the  city  of  Jerufalcm  ;  and  pro- 
faned the  temple,  by  fetting  up  his  idols  in  fomc  parts 
of  it ;  and  perfecuted  the  people  with  infatiable  cruelty  ; 
fo  that  wc  have  no  account  of  any  perfecution  like  this 
before.  Many  of  the  particular  circumftances  of  this  per- 
fecution would  be  very  affe6ting,  if  I  had  time  to  iniift 
on  them.  This  cruel  perfecution  began  about  an  hundred 
and  ieventy  years  before   Chrill.     It  is   much  fpoken   of 

P  p  2  in 

prefent  were  aftoniflied  at  this  behaviour  of  the  king,  fo  contrary 
to  their  expeftation  ;  and  Parmenio  in  particular  demanded  the 
reafon  of  it,  why  he,  whom  all  others  adored,  fliould  pay  fuch 
adoration  to  the  Jewifh  high  prieft.  Alexander  replied,  That  he 
paid  not  this  adoration  to  him,  but  to  that  God  whofe  prieft  he 
was  ;  for  while  he  was  at  Dio  in  Macedonia,  and  was  meditating 
upon  his  expedition  againfl:  the  king  of  Perfia,  there  appeared 
unto  him  in  a  dream  this  very  man,  and  in  this  very  habit,  invit- 
ing him  to  come  over  into  Alia,  and  promifing  him  fuccefs  in  the 
conqueft  of  it  :  and  now  he  was  affured  that  he  had  fet  out  upon 
this  expedition  under  the  conduft  of  God,  to  whom  therefore  he 
paid  this  adoration  in  the  perfon  of  his  high  prieft.  Hereupon  he 
entered  Jerufalem  in  peace,  and  went  up  and  offered  facrifices  to 
God  in  the  temple,  where  the  high  prieft  produced  and  laid  be- 
fore him  the  prophecies  of  Daniel,  wherein  it  was  written,  that 
a  king  of  Grccia  ftiould  overthrow  the  Perfian  empire,  which  he 
interpreted  of  himfelf.  After  this  he  granted  peculiar  privileges 
to  the  Jews,  and  proceeded  in  his  expedition  with  full  confideuce 
and  afiurance  of  fuccefs.  [Bp.  Newton  (from  ^Jofcphus)  onx\ic 
Prophecies,  vol.  ii.  difc.  15.] 


292        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

in  the  prophecy  cf  Daniel,  [Dan.  viii.  9—25  ;  xl.31  — 
38.]  and  referred  to  in  the  New  Terca-ment,  [Heb.  xi. 
36-38.]  (R) 

Antiochus  intended  not  only  to  extirpate  the  Jewifli 
religion,  but  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  the  very  nation  ;  and 
particularly  laboured  to  the  utmoft  to  deilroy  all  copies 
of  the  law.  And  confjdering  how  weak  they  were,  in 
comparifon  with  a  king  of  fuch  vafi:  dominion,  the  pro- 
vidence of  God  appears  very  wonderful  in  defeating  his 
de:^ign.  Many  times  the  Jews  feemed  to  be  on  the  very 
brink  of  ruin,  and  juft  ready  to  be  wholly  fwallowed 
up  :  their  enemies  often  thought  themfelves  fure  of  ob- 
taining their  purpofe.  Thev  once  cam.e  againft  the 
people  with  a  mighty  army,  and  with  a  defign  of  kil- 
ling all,  except  the  women  and  children,  and  of  felling 
thefe  for  flaves ;  and  they  were  fo  confident  of  obtain- 
ing their  purpofe,  and  others  of  purchafing,  that  above 
a  thoufand  merchants  came  with  the  army,  with  money 
in  their  hands,  to  buy  the  flaves  that  fliould  be  fold.  But 
God  wonderfully  flirred  up  an'd  aflifted  one  Judas,  and 
others  his  fuccefTors,  that  were  called  the  Maccabees, 
who,  with  a  fmall  handful  in  comparifon,  vanquifhed  tlieir 
enemies  time  after  time,  and  delivered  their  nation  ;  which 
was  foretold  by  Daniel,  [xi.  32.]  Speaking  of  Anti- 
ochus's  perfecxuion,  he  fays,  '  And  fuch  as  do  wickedly 

*  againft  the  covenant,  fliall  he  corrupt  by  flatteries  :  but 
'  the  people  that  do  know  their  God,   Ihall  be  Ihong,  and 

*  do  exploits.'  (s) 

God 

(r)  Persecution  under  Antiochus. ~\  The  particulars  of  this 
perfecution  are  recited  at  length  in  the  vth,  vith,  and  viith  chap- 
ters of  the  2d  book  of  Maccabees,  and  the  nio(l  material  parts  of 
it  are  confirmed  by  Polyhius  and  Jofepbus  ;  and  copied  into  Rollings 
Ancient  Hiftory,  book  xviii.  art.  2.  and  the  Utiiverfal  Hijl.  vol. 
X.  book  il.  chap.  1 1. 

(s)  Bravery  0/"  Judas  Maccabeus,]  "  We  have  here  a  fen- 
fible  image  of  the  feeble  oppofition  which  the  human  arm  is  able 
to  make  againll  that  of  the  Almiglity,  'on  \vhom  alone  the  fate  of 
battle  depends.  It  is  evident  that  Judas  himfelf  was  fully  fenfible 
of  his  own  wcaknefs :  '  How  can  we,'  fays  he  to  the  Almighty 
before  tlie  battle,  '  Hand  before  them,  unlcfs  thou  thyfelf  alTift 
f  us  V  And  it  is  as  evident,  that  he  was  no  lefs  fumlv  perfuaded 

of 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        293 

God  afterwards  brought  this  Antiochus  to  a  fearful, 
miferable  end,  by  a  loathfome  difenfe,  under  dreadful  tor- 
jnents  of  body,  and  horrors  of  mind;  which  was  foretold 
[Dan   xi.  45.]  in  thefe  words;  '  Yet  he  ftiall  come  to  this 

*  end  and  none  lliall  help  him.'  (t)  After  his  death,  there 
were  attempts  Hill  to  deftroy  the  church  of  God ;  but  God 
baffled  them  all. 

17.  The  next  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  the  de- 
ftruftion  of  the  Grecian  empire,  and  fetting  up  of  the 
Roman.  This  was  the  fourth  overturning  of  the  world 
in  this  period.  And  though  it  was  brought  to  pals  more 
gradually  than  the  fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire,  yet 
it  far  exceeded  that,  and  was  much  the  greateft  and 
largeft  temporal  monarchy  that  ever  was  in  the  world  ; 
fo  that  tlie  Roman  empire  was  commonly  called  all  the 
world  ;  [Luke  ii.  i.]  '  And  there  went  out  a  decree  frooi 
'  before  Caefar  Auguflus,  that  all  the  world  Ihould  be 
'  taxed  ;'    /'.  c.  all   the  Roman   empire.     This  empire  is 

fpoken 

of  the  fiiccefs  of  his  arms:     '  The  viftory  (he  had  faid  before) 

*  does  not  depend  on  the  number  of  foldiers,  but  it  is  from  heaven 

*  that  all  our  Urength  comes.'  But  although  Judas  had  fo  entire 
a  confidence  iu  God,  he  employs  all  thofe  expedients,  which  the 
mod  experienced  and  bravell  general  could  ufe,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  vielory.  How  excellent  a  pattern  have  we  here  for  generals! 
To  pray  with  humility,  becaufe  all  thirigs  depend  on  God;  and  to 
aft  with  vigour,  as  if  all  things  depended  on  niai)!"  [See  i  Mace. 
lii.  and  Iv.]  —  [Rollin's  Ancient  Hiilory,  book  xviil.  art.  2.] 

(t)  Antiochus  DIED  niiferably.']  "  News  was  brought  him  of  the 
defeat  of  Nicanor  and  Timotheus  in  Judea,  ....  frcfli  exprefl'es 
came  of  Lyfias's  defeat,  a«d  alfo  that  the  Jews  had  retaken  the 
temple,  thrown  down  the  altars  and  idols  he  had  fet  up,  and  re-i 
eftablifhcd  their  ancient  worfliip;  this  news  increafed  his  fury:  Im- 
mediately he  commanded  his  coachman  to  drive  with  the  utmoil 
fpced,  in  order  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity  fully  to  fatiatc 
his  vengeance  ;  threatening  to  make  Jerufalem  the  burying-plact, 
of  the  whole  Jewifh  nation,  and  not  to  leave  one  fingle  inhabitant 
in  it.  He  had  fcarce  utteied  that  blafphemous  expreifion,  but  he 
was  llruck  by  the  hand  of  God.  He  was  feized  with  incredible 
pains  in  his  bowels,  and   the  mofl  exceffive  pangs   of  the  colic. 

*  Thus   the    murderer  and    blafphemer,   (fays  the  author  of  the 

*  Maccabees,  zd  book,  chap.  ix.  12.)   having  fufPered  mofl  grle- 

*  voufly,  as  he  treated  other  men,  fo  he  died  a  miferable  desth  in  a 
?  itrange  country  in  the  mountain."  [Rollin's  Ancient  Hlftory, 
hook  xviii.  art,  2.] 


294        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fpokcn  of  as  much  the  ftrongefl:  and  greateft  of  any  of  the 
four;    [Dan.  ii.  40.]    *  And  the  fourth  kingdom  fhall  be 

*  ftrong  as  iron:  forafmuch  as  iron  breaketh  in  pieces,  and 

*  fubdueth  all  things  ;    and  as  iron  that  breaketh  all  thefe, 

*  fhall  it  break  in  pieces,  and  bruife.'  [So  alfo  Dan.  vil. 
7,  19,  23.]  The  time  that  the  Romans  firil:  conquered  and 
brought  under  the  land  of  Judea,  was  between  fixty  and 
feventy  years  before  Chrift  was  born  :  and  foon  after  this, 
the  Roman  empire  was  eftablilhcd  in  its  greateft  extent  ; 
and  the  world  continued  fubjeft  to  it  till  Chrift  came,  and 
many  hundred  years  afterwards. 

The  nations  being  thus  united  under  one  monarchy 
when  Chrift  came,  and  when  the  apoftles  went  forth  to 
preach  the  gofpel,  did  greatly  prepare  the  way  for  the 
fpreading  the  gofpel,  and  the  fctting  up  of  Chrift's  king- 
dom in  the  world :  for  the  world  being  thus  fubjeft  to 
one  government,  it  opened  a  communication  from  nation 
to  nation,  and  fo  opportunity  was  given  for  the  more 
fvviftly  propagating  the  gofpel  through  it.  Thus  we  find 
it  is  in  the  Britidi  nation,  the  communication  from  one 
part  of  its  dominions  to  another,  is  much  eafier  and 
quicker  than  to  foreign  nations.  There  are  innumerable 
difficulties  in  travelling  through  nations  under  different 
independent  governments,  which  are  not  in  travelling 
through  different  parts  of  the  fame  realm,  or  different  do- 
minions of  the  fame  prince.  So  the  world  being  under 
one  government,  that  of  the  Romans,  in  Chrift's  and  the 
apoftles  times,  facilitated  the  apoftles  travelling,  and  th§ 
gofpel's  fpreading  through  tiie  world. 

18.  About  tlie  fame  time  learning  and  philofophy 
were  rifen  to  their  greateft  height  in  the  heathen  world. 
Almoft  all  the  famous  philofophers  that  we  have  an  ac- 
count of  among  the  heathen,  went  after  the  captivity  into 
Babylon.  Almoft  all  the  wife  men  of  Greece  and  Rome 
flourifticd  in  this  time.  Many  of  them  were,  indeed,  men 
of  great  temporal  wifdom  :  and  that  which  they  in  gene- 
ral chiefly  profeffed  to  make  their  bufinefs,  was  to  inquire 
wherein  man's  chief  happinefs  lay,  and  the  way  in  which 
pien  might   obtain    it.     They    feemed    earneftly    to   bufy 

them- 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.        igs 

themfelves  in  this  inquiry,  and  wrote  multitudes  of  books 
about  it,  many  of  which  are  ftill  extant.  There  have 
been  reckoned  up  feveral  hundreds  of  their  different 
opinions  concerning  it.  Thus  they  wearied  themfelves 
in  vain,  wandering  in  the  dark,  not  having  the  glorious 
gofpel  to  guide  them.  God  was  pleafed  to  fuffer  men  to 
do  the  utmoft  tliey  could  with  human  wifdom,  and  to  try 
the  extent  of  their  own  \mderfl:andings  to  find  out  the 
way  to  happinefs,  before  the  true  light  came  to  enlighten 
the  world:  before  he  fent  the  great  Prophet  to  lead  men 
in  the  right  way  to  happinefs.  God  fulFercd  thefe  great 
philofophers  to  try  what  they  could  do  for  lix* hundred 
years  together;  and  tlien  it  proved,  by  the  events  of  fo 
long  a  time,  that  all  they  could  do  was  in  vain  ;  the  world 
not  becoming  wiler,  better,  or  happier  under  their  inftruc- 
tions,  but  growing  more  and  more  fooliJh,  wicked,  and 
miferable.   (u)      He  fuffered  their  wifdom  and  philofophy 

to 

(u)  The  Jlatc  of  Pagan  Philosophy,]  The  corrupt  ftate  of 
the  heathen  morals,  during  the  mofh  flourifiiing  times  of  their 
philofophy,  is  defcribed  by  a  learned  prelate  of  the  prefent  age  in 
the  following  pointed  language — "  The  fports  of  the  gladiators, 
unnatural  luft,  the  licentioufnefs  of  divorce,  the  expofing  of  in- 
fants and  flaves,  the  procuring  abortions,  the  public  cllablini- 
ment  of  ftevvs  ;  all  fuhfilled  at  Rome,  and  not  one  of  them  [was] 
condemned,  or  hinted  at,  in  Tully's  Offices. — The  mofl  indecent 
revelling,  drunkennefs,  and  lewdnefs,  [were]  praflifed  at  the  fcafls 
of  Bacchus,  Ceres,  and  Cybcle  ;  and  their  greatcft  philofophers 
never  remonftrated  again  (I  it. 

*•  The  heathen  philofophers,  though  they  have  advanced  fine 
fayings  and  fubllme  precepts,  in  fome  points  of  morality,  have 
grofsly  failed  in  others  :  fueh  as  the  toleration  or  encouragement 
of  revenge,  flavery,  unnatural  luft,  fornication,  fulcide,  &c.  For 
example:  Plato  exprcfsly  allowed  of  exceflive  drinking  at  the  fefti- 
vals  ot  Bacchus. — Muxhnus  Tyr'ius  forbad  to  pray. — Socrates  directs 
his  hearers  to  confider  the  Greeks  as  brethren  ;  but  barbarians 
\t.  e.  all  who  weie  of  any  other  country]  as  natural  enemies. — 
Arl/lotld  maintained,  that  nature  intended  baibarians  [/.  c.  all  who 
were  not  Grecians]  to  be  flaves. — The  Stoics  held,  that  all  crimes 
were  equal. — P'ato,  Cicero,  Epiclctiis,  all  allow  and  advlfe  men  to 
continue  the  idolatry  of  their  ancellors. — Arijlotk,  and  Cicero, 
both  fpeak  of  the  forglvcncfs  of  injuries,  as  meannefs  and  pufdla- 
Dimltv. — Thefe  wee  trifles,  to  what  follows. — 

"  Ariftotle 


296  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

to  come  to  the  greatefl:  height  before  Chrifl:  came,  that  It 
might  be  feen  how  far  reafon  and  philofophy  could  go  in 
their  higheft  afcent,  that  the  neccflity  of  a  divine  teacher 
might  appear  before  Chrifl  came.     And  God  was  pleafed  to 

make 

"  Ar'tjlotle  and  Plato  both  direct,  that  means  fhould  be  ufed 
to  prevent  weak  children  being  brought  up. — Cato  commends  a 
young  man  for  frequenting  the  ftews. —  Cicero  exprefsly  fpeaks  of 
fornication  as  a  thing  never  found  fault  with. — Plato  recommends 
a  community  of  women  ;  and  advifes,  that  foldiers  fhould  not  be 
reftrained  from  fenfual  indulgence,  even  the  moll  unnatural  fpe- 
cies  of  it. — Xenophon  relates,  without  any  marks  of  reprobation, 
that  unnatural  lull  was  encouraged  by  the  lavv's  of  feveral  Grecian 
ftates. — Solon^  their  great  lawgiver,  forbad  it  only  to  flaves. — Dio- 
genes inculcated,  and  openly  praftifed  the  mod  brutal  luft. — Zeno 
and  Cato  both  killed  themfelves."  [Bp.  of  Carlisle's  Relied, 
on  the  Life  and  Character  of  Chrift,  Appendix.] 

Another  elegant  writer  of  the  prefent  day  thus  paints  the  fitua- 
tion  of  the  heathen  world  at  Chrift's  coming  : 

""They  all  worfliipped  a  multiplicity  of  gods  and  daemons, 
whofe  favour  they  com  ted  by  impious,  obfcene,  and  ridiculous 
ceremonies  ;  and  whofe  anger  they  endeavoured  to  appeafe,  by 
the  mod  abominable  cruelties.  In  thepolitell  ages  of  the  politeft 
nations  in  the  world,  at  a  time  when  Greece  and  Rome  had  carried 
the  arts  of  oratory,  poetry,  hlftory,  architefture,  and  fculpture, 
to  the  higheft  perfeftion,  and  made  no  inconfiderable  advances  in 
thofe  of  mathematics,  natural,  and  even  moral  philofophy,  in  re- 
ligious knowledge  they  had  made  none  at  all :  a  ftiong  prefump- 
tion,  that  the  noblcft  efforts  of  the  mind  of  man,  unaiTiltcd  by  re- 
velation, were  unequal  to  the  tafl<.  Some  few,  indeed,  of  their 
philofopheis,  were  wife  enough  to  rejeft  thcfe  general  abfurdities, 
and  dared  to  attempt  a  loftier  flight.  Plato  introduced  many  fnb- 
lime  ideas  of  nature,  and  its  firll  caufe,  and  of  the  immortality  of 
the  foul;  which,  being  above  his  own  and  all  human  difcovery, 
he  probably  acquired  from  the  books  of  Mofcs,  or  the  converfa- 
tion  of  fome  Jewifli  rabbles,  whom  be  might  have  met  with  In 
Egypt ;  where  he  refided,  and  ftudied,  for  feveral  years.  From 
him  ylrijlotle,  and  from  both  Ciceroy  and  fome  few  others,  drew 
moil  amazing  ftores  of  philofophical  fcience  ;  and  carried  their  re- 
fearches  into  divine  trutlis,  as  far  as  human  genius  alone  could  pe- 
netrate. But  thefe,  with  all  this  knowledge,  were  very  deficient 
in  true  theology. 

"  At  this  time,  ChiiRIauIty  broke  forth  from  the  eaft,  like  a  ri- 
fing  fun,  and  difpclled  this  unlveifal  darkncfs,  which  obfcured 
every  part  of  the  globe  ;  and  which,  even  at  this  day,  prevails  in 
all  thofe  remoter  regions,  to  which  its  falutary  Influence  has  not  as 
yet  extended."  [Soame  Jenyns,  Efq.  Internal  Evidence  of  the 
Chrilllan  Religion.] 


FROM  THE  CAPTIVITY  TO  CHRIST.       297 

inake  foolifli  the  wifdom  of  this  world,  to  fhew  men  the 
folly  of  their  beft  wifdom,  by  the  do^Vrincs  of  his  glori- 
ous gofpel  which  were  above  the  reach  of  all  their  philo- 
fophy.     [Sec  i  Cor.  i.  19—21.] 

And  after  God  had  ihewn  the  vanity  ot  human  learn- 
ing, he  was  pleafed  to  make  it  fubfervient  to  the  purpofes 
of  Chrift's  kingdom,  as  an  handmaid  to  divine  revela- 
tion: and  fo  the  prevalence  of  learning  in  the  world  be- 
fore Chriil:  came,  made  way  for  his  coming  both  thefe 
ways,  viz.  as  thereby  the  vanity  of  human  wifdom  was 
fliown,  and  the  necefTity  of  the  gofpel  appeared  ;  and  alfo 
as  hereby  an  handmaid  was  prepared  to  the  gofpel :  for  fo 
it  was  made  ufe  of  by  the  apoftle  Paul,  who  was  famed 
for  his  much  learning,  [A61:sxxvi.  24.]  and  was  (killed 
not  only  in  that  of  the  Jews,  but  alfo  of  the  philofophers ; 
and  improved  it  to  the  purpofes  of  tiie  gofpel  ;  as  you 
may  fee  he  did  in  difputing  with  the  philofophers  at 
Athens.  [A6ts  xvii,  22,  &c.]  He  by  hrs  learning  knew 
well  how  to  improve  what  he  had  read  in  their  writings  ; 
and  even  cites  their  own  poets,  (w)  And  now  Dionyfius, 
who  was  a  philofopher,  was  converted  by  him,  and,  as 
ccclefiaftical  hiftory  gives  us  an  account,  made  a  great 
inftrument  of  promoting  the  gofpel.  (x)  And  there 
were  many  otl^ers  in  that  and  the  following  ages,  who 
were  eminently  ufcful  by  their  human  learning  in  promot- 
ing the  interefts  of  Chrifl's  kingdom. 

19.  Juft 

(w)  Paul  quotes  the  Greek  poets.]  *'  Thofe  words,  '  For  in 
*  him  we  live,'  &c.  have  been  fuppofed  by  fome  an  alliilion  to  an 
old  Greek  poet ;  but  be  this  as  it  may,  the  following  words,  '  For 
'  we  are  alfo  his  offspring  ;'  or  as  Doddridge  more  properly  renders 
them,  picferving  their  poetic  air, 

*  For  we  his  offspring  are' — 
Thefe  words  are  unqucftionably  thofe  of  Aratus^  a  poet  of  Cici- 
lia,  Paul's  own  country,  who  wrote  three  hundred  years  before  his 
time."     So  I  Cor.  xv.  33,  is  fuppofed  to  be  a  quotation  from  Mi- 
nandery  another  Greek  Poet.      [See  Fam.  E.xpof.  in  loc.J 

(x)  D;  ON  y  SI  us  the  Areopagite.']  "  This  Dionyfius  was  bred  at 
Athens  in  all  the  learned  arts,  and  was  one  of  the  fenators  and 
judges  of  the  great  court  of  Areopagus ;  at  twenty-tive  years  old 
he  is  faid  to  have  travelled  to  Egypt,  to  perfetl  himfelf  in  the 
ftudy  of  aftrology,  for  which  that  nation  was  famous :  here  be- 

C^q  holding 


298        HISTORY    OFREDEMPTION. 

19.  Juft  before  Clirift  was  born,  the  Roman  empire 
was  not  only  raifed  to  its  greateft  height,  but  alfo  fettled 
in  peace.  About  four  and  twenty  years  before  this,  Au- 
gullus  Caefar,  the  firfl:  Roman  Emperor,  afccnded  the 
throne  :  till  then  the  Roman  empire  had  of  a  long  time 
been  a  commonwealth  under  the  government  of  the  fe- 
nate  ;  but  now  it  became  an  abfolute  monarchy.  This 
Auguftus  Caefar,  as  he  was  the  firfl,  fo  he  was  the  greateft  of 
all  the  Roman  Emperors.  Thus  the  power  of  the  heathen 
world,  which  was  Satan's  vifible  kingdom,  was  raifed  to 
Its  greateft  height,  after  it  had  been  rifmg  gradually  and 
ftrengthening  itfelf  more  and  more  from  the  days  of  So- 
lomon to  this  day,  which  was  about  a  thoufand  years. 
Now  the  heathen  world  was  in  its  greateft  glory  for  ftrength, 
wealth,  and  learning. 

God  did  two  things  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's 
coming,  wherein  he  took  a  contrary  method  from  that 
which  human  wifdom  would  have  taken.  He  brought 
his  own  vifible  people  very  low,  and  made  them  weak  ; 
but  the  heathen,  who  were  his  enemies,  he  exalted  to  the 
greateft  height,  for  the  more  glorious  triumph  of  the  crofs 
of  Chrift.  With  a  fmall  number  in  their  greateft  weak- 
nefs,  he  conquered  his  enemies  in  their  greateft  glory. 
Thus  Chrift  triumphed  over  principalities  and  powers  in 
his  crofs. 

Auguftus  Csefar  had  been  for  many  years  eftabliftiin'^- 
the  ftatc  of  the  Roman  Empire,  fubduing  his  enemies 
in  one  part  and  another,  till  the  very  year  that  Chrift 
was  born;  when  all  his  enemies  being  fubdued,  his  do- 
minion over  the  world  feemed  to  be  iettled  in  its  great- 
eft glory.  All  was  eftablifhed  in  peace  :  in  token  where- 
of the  Romans  ftiut  the  temple  of  Janus,  which  was  an 
eftabliflied  iymbol  among  them  of  there   being  univerfal 

peace 

holding  the  miraculous  eclipfe  that  was  at  the  time  of  our  Lord's 
crucifixion,  he  concluded  that  fome  great  affair  was  happening  to 
the  world.  Returning  to  Athens,  he  became  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  Areopagus,  difputed  with  St.  Paul,  and  was  by  him  converted 
from  his  errors  and  idolatry,  and  being  thoroughly  inftrucled,  made 
the  firft  bifliop  of  Athens."     [Dr.  Cave.] 


IMPROVEMENT   OF   PERIOD    I.  299 

peace  throughout  the  Roman  empire,  (y)  And  this  uni- 
vcrfal  peace,  which  was  begun  the  year  tliat  Chrlft  was 
born,  lafted  twelve  years,  till  the  year  that  Chrifl  difputed 
with  the  do(5lors  in  the  temple. 

Thus  the  world,  after  it  had  been,  as  it  were,  in  a  con- 
tinual convulfion  for  fo  many  hundred  years  together, 
like  the  four  winds  flriving  together  on  the  tumultuous 
raging  ocean,  whence  arofe  thofe  four  great  monarchies ; 
being  now  eftablilhed  in  the  greateft  height  of  the  fourth 

and  laft  monarchy,  and  fettled  in  quietnefs all  things 

are  ready  for  the  birth  of  Chrift.  This  remarkable  uni- 
verfal  peace,  after  fo  many  ages  of  tumult  and  war, 
was  a  fit  prelude  for  the  ufhering  of  the  glorious  Prince  of 
Peace  into  the  world. 

Thus  I  have  gone  through  our  firfk  grand  period, 
that  from  the  fall  to  the  time  of  the  incarnation  of  Chrifl: : 
and  have  fhown  the  truth  of  the  fiill;  propolition,  viz. 
That  '  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrifl:,' 
God  was  doing^  thofe  things  that  were  preparatory  to  Chrift's 
coming,  o.nd  for£run?iers  ot  it. 


IMPROVEMENT    of   PERIOD. I. 

BEFORE  I  proceed  to  the  next  propofition,  I  would 
make  fome  few  remarks,  by  way  of  improvement,  upon 
what  has  been  fald  under  this. 

I.  Wc  may  ftrongly  argue,  that  Jefus  of  Nazareth  is  in- 
deed the  Son  of  God,  and  tlie  Saviour  of  the  w  orld ;  and 
that  the  Chriftian  is  the  true  religion,  feeing  Chrift  is  the 
very  perfon  fo  evidently  pointed   at,  in  all  the  great  dif- 

Qjl  2  penfations 

(y)  77;^"  Temple  o/"  Janus.]  Thi^  v/as  a  fquare  building, 
(fome  faj*  of  entire  brafs)  which  contained  a  llatue  of  Janus  five 
feet  high  ;  with  brazen  gates  ahvays  kept  open  in  time  of  war,  but 
jhut  in  time  of  peace  ;  which  however  fcldbm  happened.  Hifto- 
rians  mention  eight  times  of  its  being  (hut  up,  three  of  which 
were  in  the  reign  of  Augullus,  and  one  of  them  in  the  time  of  our 
Lord's  birth.     [See  Kennet'%  Antiq.  part  2.  book  i.] 


300        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

pcnfations  of  Divine  Providence  from  the  fall  of  man» 
and  was  fo  undoubtedly  in  many  inftances  foretold  frorr^ 
age  to  age,  and  fhadowed  forth  in  a  vaft  variety  of  types 
and  figures.  If  we  ferioufly  confider  the  courfe  of  things 
from  the  beginning,  and  obferve  the  motions  of  all  the 
great  wheels  of  Providence  from  one  age  to  another,  we 
fhall  difcern  that  they  all  tend  hither.  They  are  all  as 
fo  many  lines,  whofe  courfe,  if  accurately  followed,  will 
he  found  to  centre  here.  This  perfon  came  into  the 
world  with  a  commiffion  and  authority  from  God  to  do 
his  work,  and  to  declare  his  mind.  It  cannot  be  any  vain 
imagination,  but  a  plain  and  evident  truth,  that  t/iat  per- 
fon who  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  and  dwelt  at  Nazareth 
and  at  Capernaum,  and  was  crucified  without  the  gates  of 
Jerufalem,  mufl;  be  the  great  Meffiah,  or  anointed  of  God. 
And  blefied  are  all  they  that  believe  in  and  confefs  him, 
and  miferable  are  all  that  deny  him.  This  Ihows  the 
lUiireafonablencfs  of  the  Deifts,  who  deny  revealed  reli- 
gion ;  and  of  the  Jews,  who  deny  that  t/iis  Jefus  is  the 
Mcfiiah  foretold  and  promiled  to  their  fathers. 

Here  fomc  perfons  may  be  ready  to  objedl,  that  it 
may  be,  fome  fubtle,  cunning  men  contrived  to  forge  this 
hifiory,  and  thefe  prophecies,  fo  that  they  fliould  all 
point  to  Jefus  Chrift  on  purpofe  to  prove  him  to  be  the 
Meffiah.  To  fuch  it  may  be  replied,  how  could  their 
.craft  and  fubtilty  help  them  to  forefee  and  point  at  an 
event  that  was  to  come  to  pafs  many  ages  afterwards  ;  for 
no  faft  can  be  more  evident,  than  that  the  Jews  had  thofc 
writings  long  before  Chritl  was  born ;  as  they  have  them 
flill  in  great  veneration,  wherever  they  are  throughout 
the  world ;  and  they  would  never  have  received  fuch  a 
.contrivance  from  Chrillians,  to  point  to  and  confirm  Jefus 
jto  be  the  Meffiaii,  vVho  they  always  denied  to  be  fo;  and 
much  lefs  would  Vhey  have  been  made  to  believe  that  they 
always  had  thefe  books  in  their  hands,  if  they  had  been 
an  impofition. 

2.  What  has  been  faid,  affords  a  frrong  argument  for  the 
divine  authority  of  the  books  of  the*  Old  Teibment,  from 
that  admirable  harmony  there  is  in  them,  whereby  they 

aij 


IMPROVEMENT    OF   PERIOD    I.  301 

all  point  to  the  fame  objedl.  For  we  may  fee  from  what 
has  been  faid,  how  all  the  parts  of  the  Old  Teftament* 
though  written  by  fo  many  different  penmen,  and  in  ages 
diftant  one  from  another,  do  all  beautifully  harmonize  : 
all  agree  in  one  teftimony,  and  all  center  in  the  fame 
event ;  an  event  which  it  was  impofllble  any  one  of  them 
fliould  foreknow,  but  by  a  divine  revelation,  even  the  fu- 
ture coming  of  Chrift.  This  is  evident  from  what  lias 
been  faid  above. 

Now,  if  tiie  Old  Teftamcnt  was  not  infpired  by  God, 
what  account  can  be  given  of  fuch  an  agreement  ?  For  if 
thefe  books  were  only  human  writings,  written  without 
any  divine  dire6lion,  then  none  of  thcfe  penmen  knew 
that  there  would  come  fuch  a  perfon  as  Jefus  Chrift  into 
the  world ;  his  coming  was  only  a  mere  figiTjent  of  their 
own  brain  :  and  if  fo,  how  happened  it,  that  this  imagi- 
nation of  theirs,  which  thev  foretold  without  any  manner 
of  ground  for  their  predi6tion,  was  fo  exactly  fulhlled  ? 
and  efpecially  how  did  they  come  all  to  agree  in  it, 
all  pointing  exadtly  to  the  fame  thing,  though  they  lived 
fo  many  hundred  years  diftant  one  from  another  ?  This 
admirable  agreement  in  a  future  event,  is  therefore  a 
clear  and  certain  evidence  of  the  divine  authority  of  thofe 
writings. 

c.  Hence  we  mav  learn  what  a  weak  and  ignorant  ob- 
jection  it  is  wliich  fome  make  againft  fome  paits  of  the 
Old  Teftament,  that  they  confifl;  lb  much  of  the  hiftories 
of  their  kings  and  rulers,  of  their  wars  with  the  nelorh- 
bouring  nations,  and  of  the  changes  that  happened  from 
time  to  time  in  their  ftnte  and  government.  Other  na-» 
tions  fay  they  ufed  to  keep  hiftories  of  their  public  affairs 
as  well  as  the  Jews,  why  then  fliould  we  think  that  thefe 
hiftories  are  the  word  of  God,  more  than  thofe  of  other 
people  ?  But  what  has  been  faid,  ihows  the  folly  and  va- 
nity of  fuch  an  obje6lion.  For  hereby  it  appears,  that 
the  cafe  of  thefe  hiftories  is  very  ditTerent  from  that  of  all 
others.  This  alone  gives  us  an  account  of  the  original 
of  all  things;  and  deduces  them  down  in  a  regular  feries 
from  that  original,    giving  a  view  of   the  whole  fcheme 

of 


302        HISTORY  OF    REDEMPTION.    ' 

of  Divine  Providence,  from  the  beginning  to  the  confum- 
mation  of  all  things:  with  an  account  of  the  wife  and 
holy  defigns  of  the  governor  of  the  world  in  all.— By 
thefe  hiftorics  it  appears  how  God  has  been  carrying  on  the 
glorious  work  of  redemption  from  age  to  ao;e.  And  though 
hijioricsy  yet  are  they  full  of  divine  inftrudlion,  and  fhow 
forth  Chrift,  and  his  glorious  gofpel,  no  lefs  than  other 
parts  of  the  holy  fcriptures  which  are  not  fo. 

The  obje£lion,  that  it  is  a  common  thing  for  nations 
and  kingdoms  to  write  hiftories  and  keep  records  of  their 
wars,  and  the  revolutions  that  come  to  pafs  in  their  terri- 
tories, is  fo  far  from  being  a  weighty  obje6lion  againfl:  the 
hirtorical  part  of  fcripture,  as  though  it  were  not  the  word 
of  God,  that  it  is  a  ftrong  argument  in  favour  of  it.  For 
if  reafon  and  the  light  of  nature  teaches  all  civilized  nations 
to  keep  fuch  records,  and  to  publifh  them  for  the  informa- 
tion of  others ;  how  much  more  may  we  expe6l  that  God 
would  give  the  vvorld  a  record  of  the  difpenlations  of  his 
divine  government,  which  doubtlels  is  infinitely  more 
worthy  of  an  hiftory  for  our  information?  If  wife  kings 
have  taken  care  that  there  Ihould  be  good  hillories  written 
of  the  nations  over  which  they  have  reigned,  fliall  we 
think  it  incredible  that  Jefus  Chrift  ihould  take  care  that 
his  church,  which  is  his  kingdom,  his  peculiar  people, 
ihould  have  in  their  hands  a  hiftory  of  their  nation,  and  of 
his  government  over  them  ? 

If  it  had  not  been  for  the  hiftorv  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
how  ignorant  ihould  we  have  been  of  God's  dealings 
towards  mankind,  and  efpecially  his  church,  from  the  be- 
ginning ?  Wc  ihould  have  been  wholly  In  the  dark  about 
!^he  creation  of  the  world,  the  fall  of  man,  the  firft  rife  and 
continued  progrefs  of  the  difpenfation  of  grace  towards 
fallen  mankind  ;  how  the  light  of  the  gofpel  firtl  began  to 
dawn  in  the  world ;  how  it  Increafed  ;  and  how  things  were 
preparing  for  the  coming  of  Oirill:. 

If  wr.  arc  Chrlfilans,  we  belong,  to  that-divine  build- 
ing of  God  that  has  been  the  fubjedl  of  our  difcourfe  . 
but  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  hiftbry  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
inent,    we  ihould  never  have  knov/n  what  was  the  firfV 

cccafiou 


IMPROVEMENT   OF   PERIOD   I.  303 

occafion  of  God's  going  about  this  building,  and  how  the 
foundation  of  it  was  laid,  or  how  it  has  gone  on  with  from 
the  beginning.  The  times  of  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament  are  moftly  fuch  as  no  other  hifbory  reaches  up  to  ; 
and  therefore  if  God  had  not  prefcrved  an  account  of  thefe 
things  in  his  word,  we  fhould  have  been  wholly  without 
them. 

Thofe  that  obje61:  againft  the  authority  of  the  Old 
Teftament  hiftory  of  the  nation  of  the  Jews,  may  as 
well  make  it  an  objection  againft  Mofes's  account  of  the 
creation  that  it  is  hiftorical  ;  for,  in  the  former,  we  have 
an  hiftory  of  a  work  no  lefs  important,  viz.  the  work 
of  redemption.  Nay,  this  is  a  far  greater  and  more 
glorious  work,  as  we  obfervcd  before  ;  and  if  it  were  in- 
quired which  of  the  two  works,  the  work  of  creation, 
or  the  work  of  providence,  is  greateft  ?  it  muft  be  an- 
fwered,  the  work  of  providence  ;  but  the  work  of  rr- 
dempt'ion  is  the  greateft  of  the  works  of  providence.  And 
let  thofe  who  make  this  obje6lion  confider  what  part  of 
the  Old  Teftanient  hiftory  can  be  fpared,  without  mak- 
ing a  great  breach  in  that  thread  or  ferics  of  events  by 
which  this  glorious  work  has  been  carried  on. — This  leads 
me  to  obferve, 

4,  That  from  what  has  been  faid  we  may  fee  much 
of  the  wifdom  of  God  In  the  compofition  of  the  fcrip- 
tures  of  the  Old  Teftament.  Let  us  briefly  take  a  view 
of  the  feveral  parts  of  it,  and  of  the  need  there  was  of 
them . 

Firft  it  was  neceffary  that  we  iliould  have  fome  ac- 
count of  the  creation  of  the  world,  of  our  tirft  parents 
and  their  primitive  ftate  ;  of  the  fall,  of  the  old  world 
and  the  degeneracy  of  it,  and  of  the  univerfal  deluge  ; 
alio  of  the  origin  of  nations  after  this  deftrucflion  of 
mankind. 

It  feems  proper  that  there  ftiould  be  fome  account  of 
the  fucceffion  of  the  church  of  God  from  the  beginning  ; 
and  feeing  God  fuffered  all  the  world  to  degenerate,  and 
only  took  one  nation  to  be  his  people,  to  prcferve  the 
true  woriliip   and  religion  till  the   Saviour  fhould  come, 

that 


304        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

that  in  them  the  world  might  gradually  be  prepared  for 
that  great  light,  and  thofe  wonderful  things  that  he  was 
to  be  the  author  of;  and  that  they  might  be  a  typical  na- 
tion, in  whom  God  might  fhadow  forth  the  future  glo- 
rious things  of  the  gofpel-— it  was  therefore  ncceiTary  that 
we  fhould  have  feme  account  of  this,  how  it  was  firft 
done  by  the  calling  of  Abraham,  by  rheir  being  bond- 
llaves  in  Egypt,  and  by  their  beiug  brought  thence  to 
Canaan.  It  was  necelTary  that  we  fliould  have  fome  ac- 
count of  the  revelation  which  God  made  of  himfelf  to  that 
people,  in  giving  their  law,  in  the  appointment  of  their 
typical  worlhip,  and  of  the  formation  of  their  civil  and 
ecclefiaftical  ftate. 

It  feems  neceffary  that  we  fhould  have  fome  account  of 
their  being  a6tually  brought  to  Canaan,  tlieir  promifed 
land— That  we  fhonld  have  an  hiflory  of  the  fucceffions 
of  the  church  of  Ifrael,  and  of  thofe  providences  of  God 
towards  them,  which  were  moft  confiderable  and  fulleft 
of  gofpel  myftcry  ;  that  we  Ihould  have  fome  account  of 
the  higheft  external  glcry  of  that  nation  under  David  and 
Solomon,  and  more  particularly  of  the  former,  whofc 
hiftory  is  fo  full  of  the  gofpel,  and  in  whom  began  the 
race  of  their  kings  ;  and  that  we  fliould  have  fome  account 
of  the  building  of  the  temple,  which  was  moreover  fo  full 
of  myfterv. 

It  was  alfo  a  matter  of  confequence,  that  we  ihould 
have  fome  account  of  Ifrael's  dividing  from  Judah,  and 
of  the  ten  tribes'  captivity  and  utter  rtje6lion  ;  of  the 
fucceflion  of  the  kings  of  Judah  and  of  the  church,  till 
their  captivity  into  Babylon  ;  of  their  return  from  their 
captivity,  and  re-fettlement  in  their  own  land  ;  and  of 
the  origin  of  the  lad  Hate  that  the  church  was  in  before 
Chrift  came. 

A  little  confideration  will  convince  every  one,  that 
all  thefe  things  were  neceffary,  and  that  none  of  them 
could  well  be  fpared  ;  and  in  the- general,  that  it  was 
neceffary  that  we  fliould  have  an  hiftory  of  God's  church 
till  fuch  times  as  are  witiiin  the  reach  ot  human  hifto- 
ries ;  and  it  was  of  importance  tiiat  we  ftiould  have  an 

infpired 


IMPROVEMENT   OF   PERIOD   1.  $0^ 

infpircci  hlftory  of  thofe  time$  of  the  Jewiili  church, 
wherein  there  vvae  kept  up  a  more  extraordinary  inter- 
courfe  between  Gq^  and  them,  and  syhile  he  ufed  to 
dwell  among  them,  as  it  were  vilibly,  revealing  himfelf 
by  the  Shechinah,  by  Urim  and  Thummim,  and  by  pro- 
phscYt  a»<l  fo  "^o^^  immediately  to  order  their  affairs: 
that  we  /hould  have  fomc  account  of  the  great  difpeiifa- 
tions  of  God  in  prophecy,  which  were  to  be  after  the 
fini/hing  of  infpired  hiftory.  So  it  was  exceeding  needfui 
that  there  fliould  be  a  number  of  prophets  raifcd,  who 
Ihould  foretell  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  the 
nature  and  glory  of  his  kingdom,  to  be  as  fo  many  harbin- 
gers to  make  way  for  him,  and  that  their  prophecies  fliould 
reiTiam  In  th^  church. 

jjt  was  alfoi  defirable  that  the  church  fliould  have  a 
hook  of  divine  fongs  given  by  infpiration  from  God, 
wherein  there  ihould  be  a  lively  repreientation  of  the 
trvie  fpitit  of  devotion,  of  faith,  hope,  and  divine  love, 
joy,  rehgnalion,  humility,  obedience,  repentance,  &c. 
Again,  that  wc  fhould  have  fuch  books  of  moral  inftruc- 
tions  as  thofe  of  Proverbs  and  Ecclefiaftes,  relating  to 
the  aifairs  and  ftate  of  mankind,  and  the  concerns'  of 
hnraaxi  life,  containing  rules  of  true  wifdom  and  pru- 
dence for  our  conduct  in  all  circumftances :  likewife  that 
we  ihould  have  fuch  a  reprefentaticn  of  the  great  love 
between  Chrift  and  his  fpoufe,  the  church,  particularly 
adapted  to  the  difpoixtion  and  holy  afFeftions  of  a  true 
believer,  as  wc  have  in  Solomon's  Song:  alfo  that  we 
fljould  have  a  book  to  teach  us  how  to  condu;^  ourlelves 
under  afflidion,  feeing  the  church  of  God  is  here  in  a 
militant  Aate,  and  his  people  through  much  tribulation 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  therefore  God  has 
given  us  a  book  moil:  proper  in  thefe  circumftances,  even 
that  of  Job,  written  upon  occallon  of  the  afflidlions  of 
a  particular  faint,  and  which  was,  probably,  given  to  the 
church  in  Egypt  under  her  afflidions  there  ;  and  is  made 
ufe  of  by  the  apoftle  to  comfort  Chriflians  under  perfe- 
cutions.  [James  v.  11.]  *  Ye  have  heard  of  the  patience 
•  of  Job,    and  have  fpeo  the  end  of  the  Lord  ;  that  the 

R  r  '  Lord 


3o6        HISTORY  OF   REDEMPTION. 

'  Lord  is  very  pitiful  and  of  tender  mercy.*  God  was 
alfo  pleafed,  in  this  book  of  Job,  to  give  fome  view  of  the 
ancient  divinity  before  the  giving  of  the  law. 

-  Thus,  from  this  brief  review,  1  think  it  appears,  that 
every  part  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  very 
nfeful  and  necefiary,  and  no  part  of  it  can  be  fpared_, 
without  lofs  to  the  church  ;  and  therefore  the  wifdom  of 
God  is  confpicuous  in  ordering  that  the  fcriptures  of  the 
Old  Teftament  fhould  confift  of  thofe  very  books  of  which 
they  do  confift. 

Before  I  difmifs  this  particular,  I  would  add,  that  it  is 
very  obfervable,  that  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teftament 
IS  large  and  particular  where  the  great  affair  of  redemp- 
tion required  it;  as  where  there  was  moft  done  towards 
this  work,  and  moft  to  typify  Chrift,  and  to  prepare  the 
way  for  him.  Thus  it  is  very  large  and  particular  in  the 
hiftory  of  Abraham  and  the  other  patriarchs ;  but  very 
ihort  in  the  account  of  the  time  which  the  children  of 
Ifrael  fpent  in  Egypt.  So  it  is  large  in  the  account  of 
the  redemption  out  of  Egypt,  and  the  firft  fettling  of 
the  affairs  of  the  Jewifti  church  and  nation  in  Mofes  and 
Jofliua's  time  ;  but  much  fhorter  in  the  account  of  the 
times  of  the  judges.  So  again,  it  is  large  and  particu- 
lar in  the  account  of  David  and  Solomon's  times,  and 
very  ftiort  in  the  hiftory  of  the  enfuing  reigns.  Thus 
the  accounts  are  long  or  fhort,  juft  as  there  is  more  or  lefs 
of  the  affair  of  redemption  to  be  feen  in  them. 

5.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  that  Chrift 
and  his  redemption  are  the  great  fubje6l  of  the  whole 
Bible.  Concerning  the  New  Teftament  the  matter  is 
plain;  and  by  what  has  been  faid  on  this  fuhjeft  hi- 
therto, it  appears  to  be  fo  alfo  with  refpe6l  to  the  Old 
Teftament.  Chrift  and  his  redemption  is  the  great  fub- 
jeft  of  the  prophecies,  as  well  as  the  fongs  of  the  Old 
Teftament  ;  and  the  moral  rules  and  precepts  are  all 
given  in  fubordination  to  him  ;  and  Chrift  and  his  re- 
demption are  alfo  the  great  fubjedl  of  the  hiftory  of  the 
Old  Teftament,  from  the  beginning*  all  along  ;  and  even 
the  hiftory  of  the  creation  is  brought  in  as  an  introduc- 
tion 


IMPROVEMENT    OF   PERIOD    T.  307 

tion  to  the  hiftory  of  redemption  which  immediately  fol- 
lows it.  The  whole  book,  both  the  Old  Teftament  and 
New,  is  filled  with  the  gofpel ;  only  with  this  difFerence, 
that  the  Old  Teftament  contains  the  gofpel  under  a  vail, 
but  the  New  contains  it  unvailed,  fo  that  wc  may  fay  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  with  open  face. 

6.  By  what  has  been  fafd,  we  may  fee  the  ufefulnefs 
and  excellency  of  the  Old  Teftament.  Some  are  ready 
to  look  on  it  as  being  out  of  date,N  and  as  if  we,  in  thefe 
days  of  the  gofpel,  had  but  little  to  do  with  it ;  which 
is  a  very  great  miftake,  arifing  from  want  of  obferving 
its  nature  and  defign,  which,  if  it  were  obfervcd,  would 
appear  full  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  would  in  an  ex- 
cellent manner  illuftrate  and  confirm  the  glorious  doc- 
trines and  promifes  of  the  New  Teftament,  Thofe  parts 
of  the  Old  Teftament  which  are  commonly  looked  upon 
as  containing  the  leaft  divine  inftrudtion,  arc,  as  it  were, 
mines  and  trcafures  of  gofpel  knowledge  ;  and  the  reafon 
why  they  are  thought  to  contain  fo  little,  is,  becaufe 
perfons  do  but  fuperficiaily  read  them.  The  treafurcs 
which  are  hidden  underneath  are  not  obferved.  They 
only  look  on  the  top  of  the  ground,  and  fo  fuddenly  pafs 
a  judgment  that  there  is  nothing  there ;  but  they  never 
dig  into  the  mine  ;  if  they  did,  they  w^ould  find  it  richly 
ftored  with  ftlver  and  gold,  and  would  be  abundantly  re- 
quited for  their  pains. 

jWhat  has  been  faid,  may  fhow  us  what  a  precious 
tr'cafure  God  has  committed  into  our  hands,  in  that  he 
has  given  us  the  Bible.  How  little  do  moft  perfons  con- 
fider  how  much  they  enjoy,  in  that  they  liave  the  pofTef- 
llon  of  that'  holy  book,  and  may  converfe  with  it  as 
they  pleafe?  What  an  excellent  book  is  this,  and  how 
far  exceeding  all  human  writings,  wherein  God  reveals  to 
us,  and  gives  us  a  view  of  the  grand  defign  and  glorious 
icheme  of  Providence  from  the  beginning  of  the  world, 
either  in  hiftory  or  prophecy  !  that  reveals  the  great. 
Redeemer  and  his  glorious  redemption,  and  the  various 
fteps  by  which  God  accomplifhes  it  from  the  firil:  foun- 
dation  to  the  top  ftone  !      Shall  we  prize  an  hiftory  which 

R  r  2  ?ives 


sqS     history  of  redemption, 

givts  us  a  clear  account  of  fome  greit  earthly  prince,  of 
mighty  warrior,  34  of  Alexander  the  Great,  ot  Jvilius  Caefftr, 
or  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  ?  and  (hall  we  not  prize  the 
hifto] y  that  God  gives  us  of  the  glorious  kingdom  of  his 
Son  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Prince  and  Saviour  •  and  of  the  war* 
and  other  great  tranfaclions  of  that  King  of  kings  and  Lord 
of  armies,  the  Lord  mighty  in  battle  I  the  hiftory  of  the 
things  which  he  has  wrought  for  the  redemption  of  his 
chofen  people  ?     . 

7 .  What  has  been  faid,  may  make  us  fenfible  how  much 
ittoll:  perfons  are  to  blame  for  their  inattenrtire  way  of  read- 
ing the  fcripture?.  How  much  do  the  fcriptures  contain, 
if  it  were  but  obferved  ?  The  Bible  is  the  moft  Compre- 
henfive  book  in  the  world.  But  what  will  all  this  fignify 
to  us,  if  we  read  it  without  obferving  what  is  the  drift  of 
the  Holy  Ghoft  in  it  ?  The  pfalmifl  [Pfal.  cxix.  i8.]  begs 
of  God,  '  That  he  would  enlighten  his  eyes,  that  he  might 
'  behold  wondrous  things  our  of  his  law.'  The  fcriptures 
are  full  of  wondrous  things.  Thofe  hiftories  which  are 
commonly  read  as  if  they  were  only  hiflories  of  the  private 
concerns  of  fuch  and  fuch  particular  perfons,  fuch  as  the 
hiftories  of  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  Jofeph  ;  alfo 
the  hiftory  of  Ruth  ;  and  the  hiftorif-s  of  particular  law- 
givers and  princes,  as  the  hillory  of  Jolhua  and  the  Judges, 
and  David  and  the  Ifraelitiili  pTittces,  are  accounts  of  much 
greater  things,  things  of  far  more  importance  and  ejften- 
five  concernment,  than  thofe  that  read  them  arc  commonly 
aware  of. 

The  hiftories  of  fcripture  are  commonly  read  as  if  thev 
xverc  flories  written  only  to  entertain  men's  fancies  and 
to  amufe  their  leifurc  hours,  when  the  infinitely  great 
things  contained  or  pointed  at  in  therh  are  pafled  over, 
and  never  taken  notice  of.  Whatever  treafures  the  fcrip- 
tures contain,  we  fliali  be  never  the  better  foT  them,  if 
we  do  not  obferve  them.  He  that  has  a  Bible,  and  does 
not  obferve  what  is  containfd  in .  it,  is  like  a  man  who 
has  a  box  foil  of  filver  and  gold^  and  does  not  know- 
it,  docs  not  obferve  fhat  it  is  any  thing  more  than  a  vef- 

fd 


IMPROVEMENT   OF  PERIOD   I.  309 

fel  filled  with  common  ftones.  As  long  as  it  Is  thus  with 
him,  he  will  be  never  the  better  for  his  treafure  ;  for 
he  that  knows  not  that  he  has  a  treafure,  will  never  nrtake 
ufe  of  what  he  has,  and  fo  might  as  well  be  without 
it.  He  who  has  a  plenty  of  the  choiceft  food  ftored  up 
in  his  houfe,  and  does  not  know  It,  will  never  tafte  what 
he  has,  and  will  be  as  likely  to  ftarve  as  if  his  houfe  wer^ 
empty. 

8.  What  has  been  faid,  may  fhow  us  how  great  a  per- 
fon  Jefus  Chrifl:  Is,  and  how  great  an  errand  he  came  Into 
the  world  upon,  feeing  there  was  fo  much  done  to  prepare 
the  way  for  his  coming.  God  had  been  doing  nothing 
elfe  but  preparing  the  way  for  his  coming,  through  all 
ages,  from  the  beginning.  If  we  had  notice  of  a  certain 
ftranger's  being  about  to  come  Into  a  country,  and  fliould 
obferve  that  a  great  preparation  was  made  for  his  coming, 
that  many  months  were  taken  up  In  it,  and  great  things 
done  ;  and  that  many  great  alterations  were  made  in  the 
ftate  of  the  whole  country,  and  that  many  hands  were 
employed,  and  perfons  of  great  note  were  engaged  In 
making  preparation  for  the  coming  of  this  perfon,  and 
the  whole  country  was  overturned,  and  all  the  affairs 
and  concerns  of  the  country  were  ordered  fo  as  to  be 
fubfervient  to  the  defign  of  entertaining  that  perfon  when 
he  fhould  come  ;  it  would  be  natural  for  us  to  think 
with  ourfelves,  why,  furcly,  this  Is  fome  extraordinary 
perfon  Indeed,  and  it  Is  fome  very  great  bufinefs  that  he  is 
coming  upon  ! 

How  great  a  perfon  then  mufl:  he  be,  for  whofe  coming 
into  the  world  the  great  God  of  heaven  and  earth,  and 
governor  of  all  things,  fpent  four  thoufand  years  in  pre- 
paring the  way,— bringing  mighty  events  to  pafs,  accom- 
plifhing  wonders  without  number,  often  overturning  the 
world  In  order  to  it,  and  caufmg  all  the  revolutions  and 
changes  In  the  habitable  world  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration to  be  fubfervient  to  this  great  defign  ?  Surely  this 
mufl  be  fome  very  great  and  extraordinary  perfon,  and 
3  great  work  indeed  It  mull  needs  be  that  he  is  coming 
about ! 

We 


3io        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

,  We  read,  [Matth.  xxi.  8— lO-]  that  when  Chri ft  was 
coming  into  Jerufalem,  and  the  multitudes  ran  hefore 
him,  and  cut  down  branches  of  palm-trees,  and  ftrevved 
them  in  the  way,  and  others  fpread  their  garments  in  the 
way,  and  cried,  '  Hofanna  to  the  fon  of  David,'  that  the 
whole  city  was  moved,  faying.  Who  is  this  ?  They  won- 
dered who  that  extraordinary  perfon  ihould  be,  that  there 
fhould  be  fuch  an  ado  made  on  occafion  of  his  coming 
into  the  city,  and  to  prepare  the  way  before  him.  But 
if  we  confider  what  has  been  fiid  on  this  lubjeft,  what 
great  things  were  done  in  all  ages  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrifl's  advent,  and  how  the  world  was  often  overturned 
to  make  way  for  it,  much  more  may  we  cry  out,  Who  is 
this?  What  great  perfon  is  this?  And  fay,  [as  in  Pfahn 
xxiv.  8 — 10.]  '  Who  is  the  King  of  glory,'  that  God 
Jhould  fliow  fuch  refpe6l,  and  put  fuch  vaft  honour  upon 
him  ?  Surely  this  perfon  is  honourable  indeed  in  God's 
eyes,  and  greatly  beloved  of  him  ;  and  furely  it  is  a  great 
errand  upon  which  he  is  fent  into  the  world  ! 


PERIOD 


[     311     ] 


PERI  O  D      11. 
FROM  Christ's  incarnation  to  his  resup.rection. 


H 


AVING  fliown  how  the  work  of  redemption  was 
carried  on  through  the  firft  period,  from  tlie  fall  of  man 
to  the  incarnation  of  Chriit,  I  come  now  to  the  fecond, 
viz.  the  time  of  Chrift's  humiliation,  or  the  fpace  fiom 
his  incarnation  to  his  refurreclion.  And  this  is  the  moft 
remarkable  period  that  ever  was  or  ever  will  be.  Though 
it  was  but  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  yet  rnore  was 
done  in  it  than  had  been  from  the  beginning  of  the  world 
to  that  time.  We  have  oblerved,  that  all  events  from  the 
fall  to  the  incarnation  were  only  preparatory  for  what 
was  now  done.  And  it  may  alfo  be  obferved,  that  what 
was  done  before  the  commencement  of  time,  in  the  eter- 
nal counfels  of  God,  and  bqtween  the  perfons  of  the  Trini- 
ty, chiefly  refpccled  this  period.  We  therefore  now  pro- 
ceed to  confider  the  fecond  propofition,  viz. 

That  the  time  from  Christ's  incarnation  to 
his  resurrection  vvas  employed  in  procuring 
and  purchasing  redemption. 

Though  there  were  many  tilings  done  preparatory  to 
our  redemption  from  the  fall  of  man  to  this  time,  and 
millions  of  facrifices  had  been  offered  up  ;  yet  none  of 
them  could  purchafe  our  redemption.  But  as  focn  as 
Chrift  was  incarnate,  the  purchafe  immediately  began ; 
and  the  whole  time  of  Chrift's  humiliation,  from  his  bi^- 
coming  incarnate,  fill  the  morning  that  he  arofe  from  the 
dead,  was  taken  up  in  this  purchafe,  and  then  it  was  com- 
pletely tiniihed.  As  nothing  was  done  before  Chrill's  in- 
carnation, fo  nothing  was  done  after  his  refurre6lion,  to 
purchafe   redemption  for  men.     Nor   will  there  ever   be 

anv 


312        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

any  thing  more  done  to  all  eternity  :  but  that  very  moment 
that  the  human  nature  of  Chrift  ceafed  to  remain  under 
the  power  of  death,  the  utmoft  farthing  of  the  price  of 
the  falvation  was  paid  for  every  one  of  the  cleft. 

But  for  the  more  orderly  and  regular  confideration  of 
the  great  things  done  by  our  Redeemer  to  purchafe  re- 
demption for  us, 

I.  I  would  fpeak  of  Chrift  becoming  incarnate  to  capa- 
citate himfelf  for  his  purchafe  ;— and, 
^,2.  Of  the  purchafe  itfelf. 


§  I.     Of  Christ's  Incaujjatiok. 

FIRST,  I  would  confider  Chrift's  taking  upon  him 
our  nature  to  put  himfelf  in  a  capacity  to  purchafe  re- 
demption for  us. — This  was  abfolutely  ncceflary,  for 
though  Chrift,  as  God,  was  infinitely  fufficient  for  the 
work,  yet  to  his  being  in  an  immediate  capacity  for  it, 
it  was  needful  that  he  ihould  not  only  be  God  but  man. 
If  Chrift  had  remained  only  in  the  divine  nature,  he  could 
not  have  purchafed  our  falvation  ;  not  from  any  imperfec- 
tion of  the  divine  nature,  but  fey  reafon  of  its  abfolute 
and  infinite  perfeftion  :  for  Chrift,  merely  as  God,  was 
not  capable  either  of  obedience  or  fufFcring.  And  it  was 
neceflary  not  only  that  Chrift  should  take  upon  him  a 
created-nature,  but  that  he  fhould  take  upon  him  our  na- 
ture. It  would  not  have  fuffited  for  him  to  have  become 
an  angel,  and  to  have  obeyed  and  luiFered  in  the  angelic 
nature.  JBut  it  was  neceflary  that  he  ihould  become  a  man., 
and  that  upon  three  accounts. 

(j.)  It  was  needful  to  anfwer  the  law,  that  that  nature 
fhould  obey,  to  which  the  law  was  given.  Man's  law 
could  not  be  anfwered,  but  by  being  obeyed  by  man- 
God's  juftice  inlifted  upon  it,  that,  the  law  which  he  had 
given  to  man  fliould  be  honoured^  and  fubmitted  to,  and 
fulfilled  by  the  human  nature,  otherwife  the  law  could 
not  be  anlwered  for  men.      The  words,  T\v;>\x  Jhalt,  or 

Thou 


OF   CHRIST'3   INCARNATION.  313 

Thou  llialt  not  do    thus  or  thus,  were    fpoken  to  mankind, 
and  therefore  tlie  human  nature  mufl:  fulfil  them. 

(2.)  It  was  needful  to  anfwer  the  law  that  the  nature 
that  finned  fliouid  die.  Thefe  words,  *  Thou  (lialt  furely 
*  die,'  rcfpedl  the  human  nature  :  the  fame  nature  to  which 
the  command  was  given,  was  the  nature  to  which  the 
threatening  was  dire6ted. 

(3.)  God  faw  meet,  that  the  fame  world  which  was  the 
ftage  of  man's  fall  and  ruin,  fhould  alfo  be  the  ftage  of 
his  redemption.  We  read  often  of  his  coming  into  the 
world  to  fave  finners,  and  of  God's  fending  him  into  the 
world  for  this  purpofe.  It  was  needful  that  he  fhould  come 
into  this  fmful,  miferable  world  to  relliore  and  fave  it,  and 
that  he  fhould  tabernacle  with  us:  [John  i.  14.]  '  The 
Word  was  made  flelh,  and  dwelt  among  us.' 

Concerning  the  Incarnation  of  Chrift,  I  would 
obferve  the  following  things : 

The  Incarnation  itfelf ;  in  which  efpecially  two  things 
are  tobe  confidered,  viz. 

(i.)  His  conception,  which  was  in  the  womb  of  Mary, 
whereby  he  became  truly  the  fon  of  man,  as  he  was  often 
called.  He  was  one  of  the  pofterity  of  Adam,  a  child  of 
Abraham,  and  a  Ion  of  David  according  to  God's  promife. 
But  his  conception  was  not  in  the  way  of  ordinary  gene- 
ration, but  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghofl.  Chrif!:  was 
formed  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin,  of  the  fubftance  of 
her  body,  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  So  that  he 
was  the  immediate  fon  of  the  woman,  but  not  the  imme- 
diate fon  of  any  male  whatfoever  ;  and  fo  was  the  feed  ot 
the  woman,  and  the  fon  of  a  virgin,    (z) 

S  s  (2.)  His 


(2)  Chrift  horn  of  a  virgin.]  Some  learned  men  have  cited 
a  tradition  from  the  Talmudy  that  feems  very  remarkably  to  al- 
lude to  this,  viz,  '  That  vi'hen  MefTiah  fhould  come,  no  man 
'  fhould  know  whence  he  was,  and  that  his  birth  fliculd  be  like 

*  the  dew  of  the  Lord,  as  drops  upon  the  grafs,  expecting  not 
'  the  labour  of  man.^  [Stackhouse's  Hift.  of  the  Bible,  book 
viii.  chap.  i.  and  compare  John  vii.  27.   •  When  Chriilcometh  no 

*  manknoweth  whence  he  is;'  alfo  Note  o,  page  231,  above.] 


314        HISTORY  OF   REDEMPTION. 

(2.)  His  birth. — Though  the  conception  of  Chilft  wars 
fupernatural,  yet  after  he  was  conceived,  his  human  nature 
was  gradually  perfedted  in  the  womb  as  others  are,  and  his 
iairth  was  in  the  natural  way  of  nature.  But  his  concep- 
tion being  fupernatural,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
he  was  both  conceived  and  born  without  fm. 

2.  The  fecond  thing  I  would  obferve  concerning  the 
incarnation  of  Chrift,  is  the  fulnefs  of  the  time  in  which 
it  was  accomplifhed.  It  was  after  things  had  been  prepar- 
ing for  it  from  the  fall,  and  when  all  things  v/erc  ready. 
it  came  to  pafs  at  a  time,  which  in  infinite  wifdom  was 
the  moft  fit  and  proper:  [Gal.  iv.  4.]  '  When  the  fulnefs 
'  of  time  was  come,  God  fent  forth   his    Son,  made  of  a 

*  woman,  made  under  the  law.' 

It  was  now  the  moft  proper  time  on  every  account. 
Any  time  before  the  flood  would  not  have  been  fo  fit  a 
time.  For  then  the  mifchief  and  ruin  that  the  fall 
brought  on  mankind,  was  not  fo  fully  feen.  The  curfe 
did  not  fo  fully  come  on  the  earth  before  the  flood,  as 
it  did  afterwards  :  for  though  the  ground  was  curfed  in  a 
great  meafure  before,  yet  it  pleafed  God  that  the  curfe 
fhould  once,  before  the  reft:oration  of  Chrill,  be  executed 
in  an  univerfal  deflrudlion,  as  it  were,  of  the  very  form 
of  the  earth  ;  that  the  dire  effects  of  the  fall  might  otice  in 
fuch  a  way  be  feen  before  the  recovery  by  Chrift.  Though 
mankind  were  mortal  before  the  flood,  yet  their  lives  were 
continued  the  greater  part  of  a  thoufand  years  ;  a  kind  of 
immortality  in  comparifon  with  what  the  life  of  man  is 
now.     It  pleafed  God,  that  the  curfe,    '  Dufl:  thou  art  and 

*  to  duft  thou  fhalt  return,'  fhould  have  its  full  accomplifli- 
ment,  before  the  Redeemer  came  to  purchafe  a  never-end- 
ing life  for  man. 

It  would  not  have  been  fo  fit  a  time  for  Chrift  to  come, 
after  the  flood, 'before  Mofes's  time  ;  for  till  then  man- 
kind were  not  fo  univerfally  apofliatized  from  the  true 
God ;  they  were  not  fallen  univerfally  into  heatheniila 
darknefs ;  and  fo  the  need  of  Chrifl:,  the  light  of  the 
world  was  not  fo  evident :  and  the  woful  confequence 
of  the   fall  with   refpe6l  to   man's  mortality,  was  not  fo 

fuilv 


OF   CHRIST'S   INCARNATION.  315 

fully  manifeft  till  then  ;  for  man's  life  was  not  fo  fhorten- 
ed  as  to  be  reduced  to  the  prefcnt  ihndard  till  about  Mo- 
.    fes's  time. 

It  was  moft  fit  that  the  time  of  the  Meffiah's  coming 
iliould  not  be  till  many  ages  after  Mofes's  time  ;  till  all 
nations  but  the  children  of  Ifrael,  had  lain  long  in 
heathenifli  darknefs  ;  that  the  remedilefTnefs  of  their 
difeafe  might  by  long  experience  be  feen,  and  fo  the 
abfolute  neceffity  of  the  heavenly  Phyfician,  before  he 
came. 

Another   reafon  why  Chrifl:   did    not  come   foon  after 
the   flood  probably  was,  that  the  earth  might  be  full  of 
people,  that  Chrifl  might  have  the  more  extenfive  king- 
dom, and  -that  the    eflcds  of  his   light,  and   power,  and 
grace,  might  be  glorified,  and  that  liis  viaory   over  Sa- 
tan might  be  attended  with   the  greater  multitude  of  con- 
quefts.     It  was   alfo   needful  that    the   coming  of   Chrifl: 
fhould  be  many  ages  after  Mofes,  that  the  church  might 
be  prepared,  by  the  MefTiah's  being  many  ways  prefigured 
and  foretold,  and  by  his  being  long  expeded.     It  was  not 
proper   that    Chrifl   fliould  come   before    the  Babylonifh 
captivity,  becaufe  Satan's   kingdom   was  not  then  come  to 
the   height.     The   heathen  world  before    that  confifled  of 
lelTer   kingdoms.     But    God  faw    meet   that   the  McfTiah 
fhould   come    in    the  time  of  one  of  the  four  great  mo- 
narchies of  the  world.     Nor   was  it  proper  that  he  fhould 
come  in   the    time   of  the    Babylonifli   monarchy ;  for    it 
was  God's  will,  that   feveral    general    monarchies    fhould 
follow  one  another,  and    that  the    coming   of  the    Mef- 
fiali   fhould  be    in    the   time  of  the  lall,  which    appeared 
above  them   all.     The    Perfian    monarchy,    by  overcom- 
ing  the   Babylonian,     appeared     above    it  ;    and    fo    the 
Grecian,  by  overcoming  the  Perfian,  appeared  above  that ; 
and  for  the  fame  reafon,  the   Roman   above  the   Grecian 
Now  It  was   the  will  of  God,  that  his   Son    fliould  make 
his  appearance  in  the  world  in   the  time  of  this  greateft 
and  flrongefl   monarchy,  which  was   Satan's  vifible  king- 
dom  m  the   world  ;  that   by  overcoming   this,  he   might 
vifibly  overcome  Satan's  kingdom  in  its  greatefl  flrength 

^  s  ?  and 


3i6        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

and  glory,  and  fo  obtain  the  more  complete  triumph  ovet 
Satan  himfelf. 

It  was  not  proper  that  Chrift  fliould  come  before  the 
Babylonifh  captivity.  For,  betWe  that,  we  have  no  hif- 
tories  of  the  ftate  of  the  heathen  world,  to  give  us  fo  full 
proof  of  the  need  of  a  Saviour.  And  befides,  before  that 
learning  did  not  much  flourifh,  and  fo  there  had  not 
been  opportunity  to  fhow  the  infufficiency  of  human 
learning  and  wifdom  to  reform  and  f^ve  mankind.  Again, 
before  that,  the  Jews  were  not  difperfed  over  the  world, 
as  they  were  afterwards  ;  and  fo  things  were  not  prepared 
in  this  refpe6l  for  the  coming  of  ChrilL  The  neceflity  of 
abolifhing  the  Jewiflr  dilpenfaticn,  was  not  then  fo  ap- 
parent as  it  was  afterwards  made,  by  the  difperfion  of  the 
Jews ;  neither  was  the  way  prepared  for  the  propagation 
of  the  gofpel,  as  it  was  afterwards,  by  the  fame  difper- 
fion. Many  other  things  might  be  mentioned,  by  which 
it  would  appear,  that  no  other  time  before  that  very  time 
in  which  Chrift  did  come,  would  have  been  proper  lor 
his  appearing  in  the  world  to  purchafe  the  redemption  of 
men.   (a) 

3.  The  next  thing  that  I  would  obferve,  is  the  great- 
nefs  of  this  event.  Chrift's  incarnation  was  more  won- 
derful than  any  thing  that  had  ever  come  to  pafs  ;  and 
there  has  been  but  one  greater  event  that  has  ever  come 
to  pafs  iince,  and  that  was  his  death.  The  creation  of 
the  v/orld  was  a  very  great  thing,  but  not  fo  great  as  the 
incarnation  of  Chrift.  It  was  a  great  thing  for  God  to 
make  the  creature,  but  not  fo  much  as  for  the  Creator 
himfelf  to  become  one.  We  have  fpoken  of  many  great 
things    that  were   accompliil'ied    from  one  age  to  another, 

in 

(a)  Other  reafons  for  Chrijl^s  appearance  at  this  ■xi->\t.'\  One 
of  thefe  v.'e  (hall  add  from  a  late  ingenious  author — "  Had  Chrift 
appeared  while  the  Jews  were  a  free,  independent  nation,  with 
the  power  of  life  and  death  inverted  in  them,  they  would,  doubt^ 
lefs,  have  taken  him  off  at  the  firll  difeovery  of  his  public  cha- 
ratler,  and  by  that  means  have  prevented  the  propagation  of  his 
dodrine,  without  fome  miraculous  interpoiltion."  [Dr.  Ward's 
Differtations,  No.  XV.] 


OF  CHRIST'S   INCARNATION.  317 

in  the  ages  between  the  fall  of  man  and  the  incarnation 
of  Chrift  :  but  this  was  a  much  greater  event  than  any  of 
them.  Then  was  the  greatefl:  perfon  born  that  ever  was  or 
ever  will  be. 

4.  Next  obferve  the  remarkable  circumflances  of  it; 
fuch  as  his  being  born  of  a  virgin,  pious  and  holy  indeed, 
but  poor,  as  appeared  by  her  offering  at  her  purification : 
[Luke  ii.  24.]  '  And  to  offer  a  facrifice  according  to  that 
'  which  is  faid  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  A  pair  of  turtle 
'  doves,  or  two  young  pigeons.'  Which  refers  to  Lev. 
y.  7.  '  And  if  flie  be  not  able  to  bring  a  lamb,  then  flie 
'  fliall  bring  two  turtles,  or  two  young  pigeons.'  And 
this  poor  virgin  was  efpoufed  to  an  hulband  who  was  a 
poor  man.  Though  they  were  both  of  the  royal  family  of 
David,  the  moll:  honourable  family,  and  Jofeph  was  the 
rightful  heir  to  the  crown  ;  yet  the  family  was  reduced  to 
a  very  low  flate  ;  which  is  rcprefeuted  by  the  tabernacle 
of  David   being  fallen  or  broken  down.   [Amos  ix.   11.] 

*  In  that  day  will  I  raife  up  the  tabernacle  of  David  that 
'  is  fallen,  and  clofe  up  the  breaches  thereof,  and  I  will 

*  raife  up  his  ruins,  and  I  will  build  it  as  in  the  days  of 
'  old.' 

He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem  as  was  fore- 
told ;   (b)   and  there  was  a  very  remarkable  providence  of 

God 

(b)  Chrjjl  to  he  bom  in  Bethlehem.]  This  was  predifted  by 
the  Prophet  Micah,  [chap.  v.  2.]  and  his  words  are  quoted  with 
feme  variation  by  the  Evangelill  Matthew,  [chap.  ii.  3 — 6.]  "  In 
St.  Matthew  it  is  faid,   '  Thou,  Bethlehem  in  the  land  of  Judah, 

*  art  not  the  leaft  :'  whereas  in  the  Hebrew  Jt  is,   '  though  thou 

*  art  the  leaft  :'  the  fenfe  in  both  is  clear  and  confiftent,  for  this 
city,  though  far  from  being  the  moft  confiderable  in  extent  of  all 
thofc  belonging  to  the  princes  of  Judah,  is  neverthelefs,  on  account 
of  the  governor  or  ruler  that  was  to  come  out  of  it,  not  the  leaft 
among  the  thoufands  of  Judah.  The  learned  Pococke  on  this 
paflage  has  fhewn,  that  the  original  word  may  fignify  either 
great  QY  Utile.  If  it  is  read  as  in  the  tranllation  from  the  Syriac, 
in  the  Englifh  Polyglot,  with  an  interrogation,  it  will  have  the 
force  of  a  negative,  and  then  may  well  be  rendered,  as  in  the 
Arabic  and  Perfic  veriions,  and  in  the  gofpel  by  St.  Matthew; 
but  if  without  any  intci rogation,  it  will  be  as  it  is  in  the  other 
yerfions, 

«  Wh« 


3i8  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

God  to  bring  about  the  fulfilment  of  this  prophecy,  the 
tdKing  of  all  the  world  by  Auguftus  Caefar,  [Luke  ii.  i.] 
He  was  born  in  a  very  low  condition,  even  in  a  ftahle,  and 
laid  in  a  manger,  (c) 

5.  I  would  obferve  the  concomitants  of  this  great 
event,— And, 

(i.)  Firft  the  return  of  the  Spirit;  which  indeed 
began  a  little  before  the  incarnation  of  Chrill: ;    but  yet 

was 

**  Who  this  ruler,  or  prince,  or  king  is,  that  fliould  come  from 
Bethlehem,  is  determined  by  the  defcription  that  immediately 
follows,  '  whofe  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  evcr- 
*  Ming.' 

"  It  is  he  who  fo  often  went  forth  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
who  converfed  with  Abraham  and  Mofes,  who  was  before  the 
foundation  of  the  earth  was  laid,  and  who  at  lad  was  made  mani- 
feit  in  the  flefh,  and  came  forth  from  Bethlehem,  the  King  of  the 
Jews."  [Dr.  Sharp's  Argument  from  the  Prophecies  in  Defence 
of  Chriilianity,  p.  153 — 155.] 

(c)    This  Prophecy  wotiDEKTULLY  fu//i//eel.2      "  The  Emperor 
of  Rome  iffues  a  royal  edift,  that  all  his  large  dominion  (haU  be 
taxed.     He  meant  to  fill  his  coffers  with  money  ;   but  a  greater 
Sovereign  than  he  intended  the  fulfilling  of  his  promifes.     While 
every  man  repairs  to  his  city  to  be  taxed,  in  obedience  to  the  im- 
perial mandate,  Jofeph  his  father,  as  was  fuppofed,  repairs  among 
the  rell  to  Bethlehem,  the  city  of  his  family,  being  of  the  houfe 
and  lineage  of  David.     And  now  he  is  arrived  with  Mary,  his 
efpoufed  wife  ;  who  being  near  the  time  of  her  delivery,  had  been 
directed  by  Providence,  or  fpecial  inftinft,  to  accompany  her  huf- 
band  on  this  occafion.     No  coftly  palace  receives  our  weary  tra- 
vellers.    A   common   inn   is  the  place  of  his  nativity  :  perhaps  a 
filent  intimation,    that  he  himfelf  fliouId  be  a  common  faviour. 
Nor  even  in  the  inn  could  a  commodious  apartment  be  fpared  to 
the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth.     Ye  men  of  Bethlehem,  what  a 
gueft  did  ye   exclude  !     The  coarfe  accommodation  of  a  manger 
was  all  his  mother  could  obtain  for  her  tender  infant.     Lo  !   there 
he  lies  wrapt  in  fwaddling  cloaths,  whom  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain  .  .  .  for  this  is  he — believe  it,  ye  children  cf  men — r 
whofe  name  is  Immanuel,  which  by  intcrpretati  ;ii  is,  God  with 
us  !   This  is  he-,  who  from  all  evei  hilling  was  ;he  brightnefs  of  the 
Father's  glory,  the  exprefs  image  of  f  *  '    "ifon,  who  rejoiced  al- 
ways before  him,  and  was  daily  his  '  .ariiL  ..    ....  O  ye  beautiful 

fcenes  of  the  creation,  tiio-;.  ;donou3  Tun,  thou  filver  moon,  and 
all  ye  glittering  liars,  in  you  the  invifible  things  of  God  are  clear- 
ly feeu  ;  but  now  you  are  eclipfed  by  the  more  excellent  glory, 
God  manifefted  in  the  flefli !"  [M'Ewen's  Eflays,  vol.  ii.  page 
7—10.;] 


OF   CHRIST'S   INCARNATION.  319 

was  given  on  occafion  of  tliat,  as  it  was  to  reveal  either  his 
birth,  or  that  of  his  forerunner  John  the  Baptift.  I  have 
before  obfcrved  how  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed  not  long 
after  the  book  of  Malachi  was  written.  From  about  the 
fame  time  vifions  and  immediate  revelations  ceafed  alfo  : 
But  now,  on  this  occahon,  they  are  granted  anew,  and 
the  Spirit  in  thefe  operations  returns  again.  The  firfl 
inflance  of  its  refloration  that  we  have  an  account  of  is 
in  the  vihon  of  Zacharias,  the  father  of  John  the  Baptift. 
[Luke  i.]  The  next  is  in  the  vifion  which  the  virgin 
Mary  had.  The  third  in  the  vifion  of  Jofeph.  [Matt,  i.] 
In  the  next  place,  the  Spirit  was  given  to  Elizabeth. 
[Luke  i.  41.]  Next,  to  Mary,  as  appears  by  her  fong. 
[Luke  i.  46,  &c.]  Then  to  Zacharias  again,  [ver.  64.] 
alfo  to  Simeon,  [Luke  ii.  25.]  to  Anna,  [ver.  36.]  Af- 
terwards to  the  wife  men  in  the  eaft.  Then  to  Jofeph 
again,  direfling  him  to  flee  into  Egypt,  and  after  that  di- 
recting his  return. 

(2.)  I  would  next  obferve  the  great  notice  that  was 
taken  of  the  incarnation  both  in  heaven,  and  on  earth. 
How  it  was  noticed  by  the  glorious  inhabitants  of  the 
heavenly  world,  appears  by  their  joyful  fongs  on  this  oc- 
cafion, heard  by  the  fliepherds  in  the  night.  This  was 
tlie  greateft  event  of  Providence  that  ever  the  angels  had 
beheld.  We  read  of  their  hnging  praifes  when  they  faw 
the  formation  of  the  lower  world:  [Job  xxxviii.  7.I 
*  When  the  morning-ilars  fang  togetlier,  and  all  the  fons 
'  of  God  ihouted  for  joy.'  So  now  they  fang  praifes  on 
this  much  greater  occafion  of  the  birth  of  the  Son  of  God, 
who  is  the  creator  of  the  world. 

The  glorious  angels  had  all  along  expe6led  this  event : 
they  had  taken  great  notice  of  the  prophecies  and  promi- 
fes  of  thefe  things  all  along  :  for  we  are  told,  that  the 
angels  dehre  to  look  into  the  affairs  of  redemption.  [  r 
Pet.  i.  12.]  They  had  all  along  been  the  minifters  of 
Chrift  in  this  affair  of  redemption,  in  all  the  feveial  fteps 
of  it  down  from  the  very  fall  of  man.  So  we  read,  that 
they  were  employed  in  God's  dealings  with  his  ancient 
people  from  time   to  time.     And  doubtlefs  tjiey  had  long 

joyfully 


320        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

joyfully  expefted  the  coming  of  Chrift  ;  but  now  they 
fee  it  accompiiihed,  and  therefore  greatly  rejoice  on  this 
occafion. 

Notice  was  taken  of  it  by  fome  among  the  Jews : 
as  particularly  by  Elizabeth  and  the  Virgin  Mary  before 
the  birth  of  Chrift  ;  not  to  fay  by  John  the  Baptift  be- 
fore he  was  born,  when  he  leaped  in  his  mother's  womb 
as  it  -were  for  joy,  at  the  voice  of  the  falutation  of  Mary. 
But  Elizabeth  and  Mary  do  mod  joyfully  praife  God  to- 
gether, when  they  meet,  with  Chrift  and  his  forerunner 
in  their  wombs,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  fouls.  And 
afterwards  what  joyful  notice  is  taken  of  this  event  by 
the  fhepherds  and  by  thofe  holy  perfons  Zacharias,  Sime- 
on, and  Anna  !  How  do  they  praife  God  on  this  occa- 
fion ! — Thus  the  church  in  heaven,  and  on  earth,  unite  in 
their  joy  and  praife. 

Great  part  of  the  univerfe  takes  joyful  notice  of  the 
incarnation  of  Chrift  :  heaven  takes  notice  of  it,  and  the 
inhabitants  fmg  for  joy.  This  lower  world,  the  world  of 
mankind,  does  always  take  notice  of  it,  even  Gentiles  as 
well  as  Jews ;  for  it  pleafed  God  to  put  honour  on  his 
Son,  by  wonderfully  ftirring  up  fome  of  the  wifeft  of  the 
Gentiles  to  come  a  long  journey  to  fee  and  worfhip  the 
Son  of  God  at  his  birth,  being  led  by  a  miraculous  ftar, 
fignifying  the  birth  of  that  glorious  perfon,  who  is  the 
bright  and  morning  ftar,  going  before,  and  leading  them 
to  the  very  place  where  the  young  child  was.  Some  think 
they  were  inftrudled  by  the  prophecy  ot  Balaam,  who 
dwelt  in  the  eaftern  parts,  and  foretold  Chrift's  coming  as 
a  ftar  that  ftiould  rife  out  of  Jacob:  or  they  might  be 
excited  by  that  general  expe6lation  there  was  of  the  Mef- 
fiah's  coming  about  that  time,  before  fpoken  of,  from 
the  notice  they  had  of  it  by  the  prophecies  the  Jews  had 
with  them  in  their  difperfions  in  all  parts  of  the  world.* 

(3.)  The  next  concomitant  of  the  birth  of  Chrift  was 
his  circumcifion.— But  this  mav  more  properly  be  fpoken 
of  under  another  head. 

(4.)   Ano- 

*  See  Note  b,  page  266. 


I 


OF  CHRIST'S   INCARNATION.  321 

(4.)  Another  concomitant  clrcumftance  was  his  coming 
into  the  fecond  temple,  being  fir  ft  brought  thither  when  an 
infant,  on  occafion  of  the  purification  of  the  blefled  Vir- 
gin.    We  read,  [Hagg.  ii.  7.]  '  The  defire  of  all  nations 

*  fhall    come,  and  I  will  fill  this   houfe   (or   temple)  with 

*  glory.'     And    in  [Mai.    iii.  i.]  'The  Lord,  whom  ye 

*  leek,  fhall  fuddenly  come  to  his  temple,  even  the  mefTen- 
'  ger  of  the  covenant.'  And  now  was  the  firft  inftance  of 
the  fulfilment  of  thefe  prophecies., 

(5.)  The  laft  thing  I  fhall  here  mention  is  the  fceptre's 
departing  from  Judah,  in  the  death  of  Herod  the  Great. 
The  fceptre  had  never  totally  departed  from  Judah  till 
now.  Judah's  fceptre  was  greatly  diminifhed  in  the 
revolt  of  the  ten  tribes  in  Jeroboam's  time  ;  and  the  fcep- 
tre departed  from  Ifrael  or  Ephraim,  at  the  time  of  the 
captivity  of  the  ten  tribes  by  Shalmanefer.  But  yet  the 
fceptre  remained  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  under  the  kings 
of  the  houfe  of  David.  And  when  the  tribes  of  Judah 
and  Benjamin  were  carried  captive  by  Nebuchadnezzar, 
the  fceptre  of  Judah  ceafed  for  a  little  while,  till  the  re- 
turn from  the  captivity  under  Cyrus,  and  then,  though 
they  were  not  an  independent  government,  as  they  had 
been  before,  but  owed  fealty  to  the  kings  of  Perfia ; 
yet  their  governor  was  of  themfelves,  who  had  the  power 
of  lite  and  death,  and  they  v/ere  governed  by  their  own 
laws  ;  and  lo  Judah  had  '  a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet' 
during  the  Perfian  and  Grecian  monarchies.  Towards 
the  latter  parts  of  the  Grecian  monarchy,  the  people  were 
governed  by  kings  of  their  own,  of  the  race  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, for  the  greater  part  of  an  hundred  years.  After 
that  they  were  fubdued  by  the  Romans.  But  the  Ro- 
mans fuffered  them  to  be  governed  by  their  own  laws, 
and  to  have  a  king  of  their  own,  Herod  the  Great,  who 
reigned  about  forty  years,  and  governed  with  kingly  au- 
thority, only  paying  homage  to  the  Romans.  But  pre- 
fcntly  after  Chrift  was  born  he  died,  [as  we  have  an  ac- 
count. Matt.  ii.  19.]  and  Archelaus  fucceeded  him  ;  but 
was  foon  put  down  by  the  Roman  empire  ;  and  then  the 
fceptre  fully  departed  from  Judah.  There  were  no  more 
T  t  tcm- 


322        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

temporal  kings  of  Judah  after  that,  neither  had  that  peo- 
ple their  governors  henceforth  from  among  themfelves 
but  were  ruled  by  a  Roman  governor  fent  among  them  ; 
and  they  ceafed  to  have  any  more  the  power  of  life  and 
death.  Hence  the  Jews  fay  to  Pilate,  '  It  is  not  lawful 
<  for  us  to  put  any  man  to  death.'  [John  xviii.  31.] 
Thus  the  fceptre  departed  from  Judah  when  Shiloh 
came.* 


§    II.       The   PURCHASE    of  REDEMPTION. 

HAVING  thus  confidcred  Chrift's  coming  into  the 
world,  and  his  taking  on  him  our  nature,  to  put  himfelf 
in  a  capacity  for  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  I  come  now 
to  fpeak  of  the  purchafe  itfelf. — And  in  fpeaking  of  this, 
I  would,  I .  Show  what  is  intended  by  the  purchafe  of 
redemption. — 2.  Make  fome  general  obfervations  con- 
cerning thofe  things  by  which  this  purchafe  was  made. — 
3.  Confider  what  Chrift  did;  and,  4.  What  he  fuffered, 
to  make  that  purchafe. 

I.  Chrift  purchafed  our  redemption  both  by  \\\%  Jat'isf ac- 
tion, and  his  merit.  The  price  that  Chrift  lays  down,  pays 
our  debt,  and  fo  it  fatisfies  :  by  its  intrinfic  value,  and  by 
the  agreement  between  the  Father  and  the  Son,'  it  procures 
our  title  for  happinefs,  and  fo  it  merits.  The  fatisfa^'ion 
of  Chrift  is  to  free  us  from  mifery,  and  the  merit  of  Chrift 
is  to  purchafe  happinefs  for  us.    (d) 

The  word  purchafe,  as  it  is  ufed  with  refpc61:  to  the 
purchafe  of  Chrift,  is  taken  either  ftri6lly,  or  more  largely. 
It  is  ufed  ftri6tly,  to  fignify  only  the  merit  of  Chrift  ;  and 
more  largely,  to  include   both  his    fatisfadlion  and  merit. 

Indeed 

*  See  Note  G,  p.  161. 
(d)  Chrijl^s  fatlsfaSion  and  merit  to  be  dijlingiiijloedr^  In  like 
manner  fome  divines  diflinguifh  between  Chrift's  aftive  and  paf- 
five  obedience,  referring  our  pardon  ta  the  latter,  and  to  the  for- 
mer our  title  to  glory.  The  fubjeft  is  ably  and  at  large  dlfcuffed 
by  Mr.  Hervey,  Theron  and  Afpafio,  vol.  i.  Dial.  2.  and  vol.  ii. 
Dial.  10.  ;  alfo  Afpafio  vind.  Let.  i. 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        323 

Indeed  many  of  the  words  ufed  in  this  affair  have  various 
acceptations.  Thus  divines  fometimes  ufe  the  term  merit 
for  the  whole  price  that  Chrift  offered.  So  the  v/ordfatif- 
fad'ion  is  alfo  fometimes  wfed,  to  include  not  only  propitia- 
tion, but  alfo  for  his  meritorious  obedience.  For,  in  fome 
fcnfe,  not  only  fuffering  the  penalty,  but  obedience,  is 
needful  to  fatisfy  the  law  The  reafon  of  the  various  ufe 
of  thefe  terms  feems  to  be,  that  they  do  not  differ  fo  much 
really  as  relatively.  They  both  confift  in  paying  a  price  of 
infinite  value  ;  but  that  price,  as  it  refpe6Vs  a  debt  to  be 
paid,  is  z-3\\td  fat'nfadion  ;  and  as  it  refpedls  a  benefit  to  be 
obtained,  is  called  merit,  (e)  He  who  lays  down  a  price 
to  pay  a  debt,  does  in  fome  fenfe  make  a  purchafe  ;  he  pur- 
chafes  liberty  from  the  obligation.  And  he  who  lays  down 
a  price  to  purchafe  a  good,  does  as  it  were  imke  fatisfa^ion  : 
he  fatisfies  the  conditional  demands  of  him  to  whom  he 
pays  it.  This  may  fuffice  concerning  what  is  meant  by 
the  purchafe  of  Chrifl. 

2.  I  proceed  to  fome  general  obfervations  concerning 
thofe  things  by  which  this  purchafe  was  made — And, 

(i.)  I  obferve,  that  whatever  in  Chrift's  work  had 
the  nature  of  fathfan'ion,  was  by  virtue  of  his  fuffering 
or   humiliation.        But   whatever  had  the  nature  of  ma-'it, 

T  t  2  it 

(e)  The  PRICE  of  our  redemption.']  "  Now,  what  is  a  price  ? 
A  price  is  a  valuable  compenfation  of  one  thing  for  another.  A 
flave  is  redeemed  from  captivity,  a  debtor  from  prifon,  when 
fome  gracious  redeemer  procures  their  liberty,  by  giving  fome 
equivalent  to  the  perfon  by  whom  they  are  detained.  We  are 
debtors  ;  we  cannot  pay  unto  God  what  we  are  owing.  We  are 
captives,  and  we  cannot  haften  to  be  loofed.  Jefus  Chrift  is  the 
merciful  Redeemer,  who  pays  the  fum  we  were  owing,  and  fays 
to  the  prifoncr,  '  Go  forth.'  Will  we  not  believe  an  apoftle, 
when  he  tells  us,  *  Ye  are  not  your  own  ;  ye  are  bought   with  a 

*  price  ;'  [l  Cor.  vi.  20.]  Would  you  know  what  this  price  Is  ? 
Another  apollle  will  tell,  'Ye  are  not  redeemed  with  corruptible 

*  things,  as  filver  and  gold,  but  with  the  precious  blood  of 
•Chrift.    [i  Pet.  i.   18.]      [M<Ewen's  Effays,  vol.  i.  p.  35.] 

♦'  The  ranfom  was  paid  down.     The  fund  of  heav'n 

pour'd  forth  the  price. 

All  price  beyond.     Though  curious  to  compute, 
Archangels  fail'd  to  caft  the  mighty  fum." 

[Young's  Night  Thoughts,  IV.] 


3H        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

it  was  by  virtue  of  the  excellency  of  his  obedience.—- 
The  fatisfa^'ion  of  Chrifl:  confifts  in  his  anfwering  the  de- 
jnands  of  the  law  on  man,  which  were  confequent  on  the 
breach  of  it.  Thefe  were  anfwered  by  fufFering  its  pe- 
nalty. The  merit  of  Chrift:  confifts  in  what  he  did  to  ful- 
fil what  the  law  demanded  before  man  finned,  which  was 
obedience. 

The  fatisfa6lion  or  propitiation  of  Chrift  confifts  either 
in  his  fufFering  pain,  or  being  fubjedl  to  abfement.  For 
he  not  only  made  fatisfa£tion  by  proper  fuffering,  but  by 
whatever  had  the  nature  of  humili  tion  and  abafement ; 
as  his  continuance  under  the  power  of  death,  while  he 
lay  in  the  grave,  though  neither  his  body  nor  his  foul 
flridtly  endured  fufFering  after  he  was  dead.  So  all  the 
obedience  of  Chrift  in  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  in  one 
refpedl  or  another,  had  the  nature  of  merit  in  it,  and  was 
part  of  the  price  with  which  he  purchafed  happinefs  for 
the  eledl. 

(2.)  Both  Chrift's  fatisfa6i:ion  for  fin,  and  alfo  his  me- 
riting happinefs  by  his  righteoufnefs,  were  carried  on 
through  the  whole  time  of  his  humiliation.  Chrift's  fatif- 
fadlion  for  fin  was  not  only  by  his  laft  fufFerings,  though  it 
was  principally  by  them  ;  but  all  his  fufterings,  and  all  the 
humiliation  that  he  was  fubje6l  to  from  the  firft  moment  of 
his  incarnation  to  his  refurredtion,  were  propitiatory  or  fa- 
tisfa^tory.— So  alfo  the  purchafe  of  happinefs  by  his  righ- 
teoufnefs was  alfo  carried  on  through  the  whole  time  of  his 
humiliation  ;  not  only  in  the  courfe  of  his  life,  but  in  lay- 
ing down  his  life  at  the  end. 

(3.)  It  was  by  the  fame  things  that  Chrift  both  'fatif- 
fied  God's  juftice,  and  alfo  purchafed  eternal  happinefs. 
He  did  not  make  fatisfadlion  by  fome  things  that  he  did, 
and  then  work  out  a  righteoufnefs  by  others,  but  in  the 
fame  a6ls  by  which  he  wrought  out  righteoufnefs,  he 
alfo  made  fatisfadlion,  only  taken  in  a  different  relation. 
Thofe  fame  a6ls  of  obedience  wherein  the  righteoufnefs 
of  Chrift  confil^ed,  and  which  purchafed  heaven  for  us, 
confidercd  with  refpe6l  to  the  felf-denial,  pain,  and  hu- 
miliation which  was  in  them,  had  the  nature  of  laiisfac- 

tjon, 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        325 

tion  and  procured  our  pardon.  Thus  his  going  about 
doing  good,  preaching  the  gofpel,  and  teaching  his  difci- 
ples,  was  a  part  of  his  righteoufnefs,  as  it  was  done  in 
obedience  to  the  Father  :  and  a  part  of  his  fatisfa6lion, 
as  he  did  it  with  great  labour,  trouble,  and  wearinefs, 
and  under  great  tennptations,  expofing  himfelf  hereby  to 
reproach  and  contempt.  So  his  laying  down  his  life  had 
the  nature  of  fathfa^ion,  confidered  as  his  bearing  our 
punifhment  in  our  ftead ;  but  conlidered  as  an  adl  of  obe- 
dience to  God,  who  had  given  him  this  command,  that 
he  fliould  lay  down  his  life  for  finners,  it  was  a  part  of 
h\s  righteoufnefs,  (f)  as  truly  as  of  his  fatisfadlion.— Thefe 
things  may  fuffice  to  be  obferved  in  general  concerning  the 
purchafe  of  redemption. 

3.  I  now  proceed  to  fpeak  more  particularly  of  thofe 
things  which  Chrill:  did,  and  was  the  fubje6t  of,  during 

his  humiliation,    whereby  this  purchafe  was  made. 

And  the  nature  of  the  purchafe  of  Chrift,  as  it  has  been 
explained,  leads  us  to  confider  thefe  things  under  a  two- 
fold view,  viz,  (i.)  With  refpedl  to  his  righteoufnefs , 
which  appeared  in  them  ;— and,  (2.)  With  refpe6l  to 
the  fufferlngs  and  humUlatipn,  which  -he  was  fubjedl  to  in 
our  flead. 

(i.)  I  will  confider  the  things  that  pafTed  during  the 
time  of  Chrift's  humiliation,  with  refpedt  to  the  obedi- 
ence tliat  he  exercifed  in  them.  And  this  is  fubjedl  to  a 
direefokl  diftribution.  With  refpe6t  to  the  laws  which 
he  obeyed.— With  refpe6l  to  the  various  _/?^^«  of  life  \n 

which 


(f)  Chrifl's  DEATH  a?i  a3  of  obedience.']  "  This  part  of  our 
Lord's  meritorious  humiliation  [viz.  his  death]  is  [fometimcs]  by 
a  very  ufual  figure,  put  for  the  whole.  The  death  of  Chrill  in- 
cludes not  only  his  fufFerings,  but  his  obedience.  The  fhedding  of 
his  precious  blood  was  at  once  the  grand  inftance  of  his  fuffering, 
and  the  finifhing  aft  of  his  obedience.  In  this  view  it  is  confi- 
dered, and  thus  it  is  interpreted  by  his  own  ambafiador ;  who, 
fpeaking  of  his  divine  Mafter,  fays,  '  He  was  obedient  unto  death, 
'  even  the  death  of  the  crofs,'  [Phil.  ii.  8.]  In  like  manner, 
when  the  fcr.ipture  afcribcs  our  jultification  to  the  death  of  Chriil, 
we  are  not  to  think  that  it  would  fet  afide,  but  imply  his  ob\.'di- 
fnce.     [Hep.vey,  Theron  and  Afp.  voL  ii.  Dial.  lo.J 


326        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

which  he  performed  it, — and  with  refpe6l  to  the  feveral 
virtues  he  exercifed. 

The  tirft  diftribution  of  the  a£ts  of  Chrift's  righteouf- 
nefs  is  with  refped:  to  the  laws  which  he  obeyed.  But 
all  the  precepts  which  Chrift  obeyed  may  be  reduced  to 
one  law  which  the  apoftle  calls  '  the  law  of  works.'  [Rom. 
iii.  27.]  And  this  indeed  includes  all  the  laws  which 
God  ever  gave  to  mankind ;  for  it  is  a  general  rule  of  the 
law  of  works,  and  indeed  of  the  law  of  nature,  that  God 
is  to  be  obeyed,  and  that  he  muft  be  fubmitted  to  in  what- 
ever pofitive  precept  he  is  pleafed  to  give.  But,  more 
particularly,  the  commands  which  Chrift  obeyed,  were  of 
three  kinds;  they  were  either  fuch  as  he  was  fubjevSl  to 
merely  as  man,  as  a  Jew,  or  purely  as  Mediator .  As  man  he 
obeyed  the  moral  law,  which  was  the  fame  with  that  which 
was  given  at  Mount  Sinai,  which  is  obligatory  on  all 
mankind  in  all  ages  of  the  world.— As  a  Jew,  he  was 
fubjcvSl  to  the  ceremonial  law,  and  was  conformed  to  it  in 
being  circumcifed  the  eighth  day ;  and  he  ftriftly  obeyed  it 
in  going  up  to  Jerufalem  to  the  temple  three  times  a  year ; 
at  leaft  after  he  was  come  to  the  age  of  twelve  years,  which 
feems  to  have  been  the  age  when  the  males  began  to  go  up 
to  the  temple  :  Chrift  alfo  conftantly  attended  the  fervice 
of  the  temple,  and  of  the  fynagogues.  To  this  head  may 
be  reduced,  his  fubmiflion  to  John's  baptifm ;  for  it  was  a 
fpecial  command  to  the  Jews,  to  go  forth  to  John  the  Bap- 
tift,  and  be  baptized  of  him,  and  therefore  when  Chrift 
came  to  be  baptized  of  John,  and  John  objeifled,  that  he 
had  more  need  to  be  baptized  of  him,  he  gives  this  rea- 
fon  in  reply,  that  it  was  needful  that  he  fhould  do  it,  that 
he  might  ♦  fulfil  all  righteoufnefs.'  [Matt  iii.  13— 15-] 
—Again,  Chrift  was  fubjedt  to  the  mediatorial  law,  which 
contained  thofe  commands  of  God  to  which  he  was  fub- 
je6l,  not  merely  as  man,  nor  yet  as  a  Jew,  but  which  re- 
lated purely  to  his  mediatorial  office.  Such  were  the  com- 
mands which  the  Father  gave  him,  to  teach  fuch  dodlrines, 
to  preach  the  gofpel,  to  work  fuc"h  miracles,  to  call  fuch 
difciples,  to  appoint  fuch  ordinances,  and  finally  to  lay 
down  his  life:    for  he  did  all  thefe  things  in  obedience  to 

com- 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        327 

commands  he  had  received  of  the  Father,  as  he  often  tells 
us.   [John  X.   18.— xiv.  31.] 

And  It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  Chrift's  righteoufnefs,  by 
which  he  merited  heaven  for  himfelf,  and  all  who  believe 
in  him,  confifts  principally  in  his  obedience  to  this  media- 
torial law  ;  for  in  fullilling  this  law  confifted  his  chief 
work  and  bufmefs  in  the  world.  What  Chrift  had  to  do 
in  the  world  as  Mediator,  was  infinitely  more  difficult  than 
what  he  had  to  do  merely  as  a  man,  or  as  a  Jew.  To 
his  obedience  to  this  mediatorial  law  belongs  his  going 
through  his  laft  fufferings,  beginning  with  his  agony  in 
the  garden,  and  ending  with  his  refurreilion.  As  the 
obedience  of  the  firft  Adam,  wherein  his  righteoufnefs 
would  have  confifted,  if  he  had  ftood,  would  have  princi- 
pally confifted,  not  in  his  obedience  to  the  moral  law, 
to  which  he  was  fubjedl  merely  as  man,  but  in  his  obe- 
dience to  that  fpecial  law  that  he  was  fubje6l  to  as  moral 
head  and  furety  of  mankind,  even  the  command  of  ab- 
ftaining  from  the  tree  of  knowledge  of  good  and  evil ;  fo 
the  obedience  of  the  fecond  Adam,  wherein  his  righte- 
oufnefs confifts,  lies  principally,  not  in  his  obedience  to 
the  law  that  he  was  fubje6l  to  merely  as  man,  but  that 
fpecial  law  to  which  he  was  fubjedt  in  his  office  as  Mediator 
and  furety  for  man. 

Before  I  proceed  to  the  next  diftribution  of  Chrift's 
righteoufnefs,  I  would  obferve  three  things  concerning  his 
obedience  to  thefe  laws. 

[i.]  He  performed  that  obedience  to  them,  whicli 
was  in  every  refpe6l  perfeil  ;  it  was  univerfal  as  to  the 
laves  that  he  was  fubjedl  to,  and  every  individual  precept 
contained  in  them.  It  was  perfedl  with  refpedl  to  the 
principle  from  which  he  obeyed :  this  was  wholly  right : 
there  was  no  corruption  in  his  heart.  It  was  perfedl  with 
refpedl  to  the  ends  he  a<£led  for;  for  he  never  had  any 
by-ends,  but  aimed  perfedly  at  fuch  as  the  law  of  God 
required.  And  it  was  perfeil  with  refpctSl  to  the  conftan- 
cy  of  his  obedience:  he  held  out  to  the  end,  through  all 
tlie  changes  he  pafled  through,  and  all  the  trials  that  he 
underwent.— The   meritorioufnefs  of    Chrift's  obedience 

depends 


328        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

depends  on  the  perfe6tion  of  it.  If  it  had  failed  in  any 
inftance,  it  could  not  have  been  meritorious :  for  that  is 
not  accepted  as  an  obedience  to  a  law,  that  does  not  fully 
anfwer  it. 

[2.]  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  of  Chrift's  obe- 
dience is,  that  it  was  performed  through  the  greateft  trials 
and  temptations  that  ever  any  obedience  was :  which  was 
another  thing  that  rendered  it  more  meritorious  and 
thank-worthy.  To  obey  another  when  his  commands 
are  eafy,  is  not  fo  worthy,  as  it  is  to  obey  when  it  cannot  be 
done  without  great  difficulty. 

[3.]  He  performed  this  odedience  with  infinite  refpe£l 
to  God,  and  the  honour  of  his  law.  The  obedience  he 
performed  was  with  infinitely  greater  love  to  God,  and 
regard  to  his  authority,  than  the  angels  poflefs.  The 
angels  perform  their  obedience  with  that  love  which  is 
perfeft,  with  finlefs  perfedtion :  but  Chrift  performed 
his  obedience  with  much  greater  love  than  the  angels  do 
y theirs,  even  infijiite  love;  for  though  the  human  nature 
of  Chrift  was  not  capable  of  love  abfolutely  infinite,  yet 
Chrift's  obedience,  which  was  performed*  in  that  human 
nature,  is  not  to  be  looked  upon  as  merely  the  obedience 
of  the  human  nature,  but  the  obedience  of  his  perfon, 
as  God- man  ;  and  there  was  infinite  love  of  the  perfon 
of  Chrift  manifeft  in  that  obedience.  And  this,  together 
with  the  infinite  dignity  of  the  perfon  that  obeyed,  ren- 
dered his  obedience  infinitely  meritorious. 

The  fecond  diftribution  of  the  a6ls  of  Chrift's  obedi- 
ence, is  with  refpeft  to  the  different  parts  of  his  life, 
wherein  they  were  performed.  And  in  this  refpedt  they 
may  be  divided  into  thofc  which  were  performed  in  pri- 
vate life,  and  thofe  which  were  performed  in  his  public 
miniftry. 

Thofe  a6ts  he  performed  during  his  private  life:  he  was 
perfeftly   obedient  in  his  childhood,    (g)      He  infinitely 

difi'ered 

(g)  The  CHILDHOOD  of  jfefus.']  "  Wc  cannot  rcafonably 
doubt,   but  the  young  Redeemer  gave  early  proofs  of  his  divine 

orlgi- 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        329 

differed  from  other  children,  who,  as  loon  as  they  begin 
to  a6l,  begin  to  fin  and  rebel.  He  was  fuhjcft  to  his 
earthly  parents,  though  he  was  Lord  of  ali.  [Luke  ii.  51.] 
He  was  found  about  his  Father's  bufinefs  at  twelve  years 
of  age  in  the  temple.  [Luke  ii.  42.]  He  tlien  began  that 
work  that  he  had  to  do  in  fulfilment  of  the  mediatorial 
law,  which  the  Father  had  given  him.  He  continued  his 
private  life  for  about  thirty  years,  dwelling  at  Nazareth 
in  the  houfe  of  his  reputed  father  Jofeph,  where  he  ferved 
God  in  a  private  capacity,  and  in  following  a  mechanical 
trade,  the  bufmefs  of  a  carpenter. 

Thofe  a6^s  which  he  performed  during  his  public  mhujiry ■> 
which  began  when  he  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
continued  for  the  three  laft  years  and  an  half  of  his  life. 
Mod  of  the  hiftory  of  the  evangelifts  is  taken  up  in  giving 
an  account  of  what  paffed  during  thefe  three  years -a-Rd  an 
half.  Chrift's  firft  appearing  in  his  public  miniftry,  is 
what  is  often  called  his  coming  in  fcripture.  Tiius  John 
fpeaks  of  Chrifl's  coming  as  what  is  yet  to  be,  though  he 
had  been  born  long  before. — Concerning  the  public  mini- 
dry  of  Chrift,  obferve  the  following  things. 

[i.]  The  forerunner  of  Chrift's  coming  in  his  public 
minillry  was  John  the  Baptift  :  he  came  preaching 
repentance  for  the  remilTion  of  fins,  to  make  way  for 
Chrift's  coming,  agreeable  to  the  piophecies  of  him.  [If. 
xl.  3—5.  and  Matt.  iv.  5,  6.]  It  is  fuppofed  that  John 
the  Baptift  began  his  miniftry  about  three  years  and  an 
half  before  Chrift  ;  fo  that  John's  miniftry  and  Chrift's 
put  together,  made  feven  years,  which  was  the  laft  of  Da- 
niel's weeks  ;   [Dan     ix.  27.]   'He   will  contirm   the  cc- 

U  u  '  venrmt 

original.  It  was,  no  doubt,  a  very  pleafing  employment  to  the 
highly-favoured  parents,  to  rear  up  this  tender  plant  by  a  thou- 
fand  endearing  offices  ;  to  mark  the  firH:  buddings  of  his  genius 
more  than  mortal ;  and  to  oblerve  the  bloffoms  of  every  heavenly- 
grace  that  adorned  his  holy  foul.  But  as  it  hath  feemed  good  to 
the  wifdom  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  to  be  very  fparing  in  the  hillory 
of  his  private  life,  after  he  called  his  Son  out  of  Egypt,  we  muft, 
he  contented  to  remain  in  ignorance  of  what  is  not  revealed." 

[M'Ewen's  EfTays,  vol.  ii.  p.  13,    14.] 


330        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  venant  with  many  for  one  week.'  Chrift  came  in  the 
midft  of  the  week,  viz.  in  the  beginning  of  the  laft  hah" 
of  it,  or  the  laft  three  years  and  an  half,  as  Daniel  fore- 
told, as  in  the  verfe  juft  now  quoted  :  '  And  in  the  midtl 
'  of  the  week  he  fliall  caufe  the  facrihce  and  the  oblation 
'  to  ceafe.'* 

John  Baptift's  miniftry  confided  principally  in  preach- 
ing the  law,  to  awaken  men  and  convince  them  of  fm  ;  to 
prepare  men  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  to  comfort  them  ; 
as  the  law  is  to  prepare  the  heart  for  the  entertainment  of 
the  gofpel.— A  very  remarkable  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  attended  John's  miniftry  ;  and  the  efFeft  of  it  was, 
that  Jerufalem,  and  all  Judea,  and  all  the  region  round 
about  Jordan,  were  awakened,  convinced,  and  fubmitted 
to  his  baptifm,  confeffing  their  fms.  John  is  fpoken  of 
as  the  greateft  of  all  the  prophets  v/no  came  before  Chrift  : 
[Matt.  xi.  II.]   '  Among  thofe  that   are  born  of  women, 

*  there  hath  not  rifcn  a  greater  than  John  the  Baptift  ;' 
i.  e.  he  had  the  moft  honourable  office,  (h)  He  was  as 
the  morning  ftar,  which  is  the  harbinger  of  the  approach- 
ing day,  and  forerunner  of  the  rifing  fun.  The  other 
prophets  were  ftars  that  were  to  give  light  in  the  night  ; 
but  wc  have  heard  how  thofe  ftars  went  out  on  the  approach 
of  the  gofpel  day.  But  now  the  coming  of  Chrift  being 
very  nigh,  the  morning  ftar  comes  before  him,  the  brighteft 
of  all  the  ftars,  as  John  the  Baptift  was  the  greateft  of  all 
the  prophets. 

And  when  Chrift  came  in  his  public  miniftry,  the  liglit 
of  the  morning  ftar  decreafed  too  ;  as  ye  fee,  when  the  fun 

rifes, 
*  Compare  Note  d,  p.  272. 

(h)  John's  office  honourable. J  "  It  was  great  preferment 
to  John  above  all  the  prophets,  that  he  was  Chrift's  harbinger. 
....  His  bufinefs  was  to  prepare  Chriil's  way,  to  difpofe  people 
to  receive  the  Saviour,  by  difcovenng  to  them  their  fm  and  mi- 

fery,  and  their  need  of  a  Saviour Note,  Much  of  the 

beauty  of  God's  difpenfations  lies  in  their  mutual  connexion  and 
coherence,  and  the  reference  tlicy  Ixave  one  to  another.  That 
which  advanced  John  above  the  Old  Teilament  prophets  was, 
that  he  went  immediately  before  Chrift.  Note,  The  nearer  any 
are  to  Chrift,  the  more  truly  honourable  they  are."  [Henry 
in  loc] 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        331 

rifes,  itdlminiflies  the  light  of  the  morning  flar.  So  John 
the  Baptift  fays  of  himfelf,  [John  iii.  30.]  '  He  muft  in- 

*  creafe,  but  I  muft  decreafe.'  And  foon  after  Chrift  be- 
gan his  public  miniftry,  John  the  Baptift  was  put  to  death  ; 
as  the  morning  ftar  is  vifible  a  little  while  after  the  fun  is 
rifen,  yet  foon  goes  out. 

[2.]  The  next  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  Chrift's 
entrance  on  his  public  miniftry,  which  was  by  baptifm, 
followed  with  the  temptation  in  the  wilderncfs.  His  bap- 
tifm was,  as  it  were,  his  folemn  inauguration,  by  which 
he  entered  on  his  miniftry,  and  was  attended  with  his 
being  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghoft,  in  a  folemn  and 
vifible  manner,  the  Holy  Ghoft  defcending  upon  him  in  a 
vifible  Ihape  like  a  dove,  attended  with  a  voice  from  hea- 
ven, faying,  *  This  is  my  beloved  Son  in  whom  I  am  well 

*  pleafed.'  [Matt.  iii.  16,  17.] 

After  this  he  was  led  by  the  devil  into  the  wildernefs. 
Satan  made  a  violent  onfet  upon  him  at  his  firft  entrance 
on  his  work  ;  and  now  he  had  a  remarkable  trial  of  his 
obedience  ;  but  he  got  the  vidlory.  He  who  had  fuch  fuc- 
cefs  with  the  firft  Adam,  had  none  with  the  fecond. 

[3.]  The  work  in  which  Chrift  was  employed  during 
his  miniftry.  And  here  are  three  things  chiefly  to  be  taken 
notice  of,  viz..  his  preaching,  his  working  of  miracles,  and 
his  calling  and  appointing  difciples  and  minifters  of  his 
kingdom. 

His  preaching  the  gofpel.  Great  part  of  the  work  of 
his  public  miniftry  confifted  in  this  ;  and  much  of  that 
obedience  by  which  he  purchafed  falvation  for  us,  was  in 
his  fpeaking  thofe  things  which  the  Father  commanded 
him.  He  more  clearly  and  abundantly  revealed  the  mind 
and  v/ill  of  God,  than  ever  it  had  been  before.  He  came 
from  the  bofom  of  the  Father,  and  perfectly  knew  his 
mind,  and  was  in  the  beft  capacity  to  reveal  it.  As  the 
fun,  as  foon  as  it  is  rifen,  begins  to  fliine  ;  fo  Chrift,  as 
foon  as  he  came  into  his  public  miniftry,  began  to  en- 
lighten the  world  with  his  dodrinc.  As  the  law  was 
given  at  Mount  Sinai,  fo  Chrift  delivered  his  evangelical 
dodrine,  full  of  blefliiigs,  and  not  curfes,  to  a  multitude 

V  u  2  on 


332        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

on  a  mountain.  [Matt.  v.  vi.  and  vii.]  When  he  preached 
he  did  not  teach  as  the  fcribes,  but  he  taught  as  one  hav- 
ing authority  ;  fo  that  his  hearers  were  aftonifhed  at  his 
do6trine.  (i)  He  did  not  reveal  the  mind  and  will  of 
God  in  the  ftyle  of  the  prophets,  '  Thus  faith  the  Lord  ;' 

but, 

(i)    Chrijl  taught   not  as  the   scribes.]      "  Our   Lord   Jefus 
Chriit  had  been  long  expefted  to  appear  in  the  Jewi(h  church,  as 

a  prophet  like  unto  Mofe: The  people  therefore  formed  the 

higheft  expeftations  of  his  ceconomy,  and  he  framed  it  fo  as  to 
exceed  all  dcfcription.      He  taught  ,   .   .  not  as  the  fcribes. 

"  Inltead  of  deriving  his  doftrine  from  popular  notions,  human 
paffions,  the  interefts  of  princes,  or  the  traditions  of  priefts,  he 
took  it  immediately  from  the  holy  fcriptures,  to  which  he  con- 
llantly  appealed.  The  truths  of  natural  religion  he  explained 
and  ellabliflied ;  the  doctrines  of  revelation  he  expounded,  eluci- 
dated, and  enforced,  and  thus  brought  life  and  immortality  to 
light  by  the  gofpel. — The  motives  which  he  employed  to  give  his 
doftrine  energy,  were  not  taken  from  fmful  fecular  things  ;  but 
it  was  urged  home  in  its  truth  and  importance.  The  faCt  Is  true, 
and  THEREFORE  you  ought  to  believe  it,  whether  the  world  ad- 
mit it  or  not.  That  duty  is  important,  .  .  .  and  therefore  you 
ought  to  perform  it,  whether  the  world  perform  it  or  not. — The 
tempers  in  which  he  executed  his  mlniftry  were  the  nobleft  that  can 
be  conceived.  He  v/as  humble,  compafiionate,  firm,  dlfuitereft- 
ed,  and  generous. — Add  to  thefe  the  fimpllcity  and  majeily  of 
his  ityle,  the  beauty  of  his  images,  the  alternate  foftnefs  and  fe- 
vcrity  of  his  addrefs,  the  choice  of  his  fubjefts,  the  gracefulnefs 
of  his  deport 'iient,  the  indefatigablenefs  of  his  zeal,  .  .  .  where 
lliall  I  put  the  period  ?  His  perfections  are  inexhauftible,  and  our 
admiration  is  everlafting.  The  charafter  of  Chrift  is  the  beft  book 
a  preacher  can  ftudy. 

"  The  fuccefs  that  accompanied  the  miniftry  of  our  Emanuel, 
was  truly  allonifning.  My  foul  overflows  with  joy,  my  eyes  with 
tears  of  pleafure,  while  I  tranfcribe  it.  When  this  Sun  of  righ- 
teoufnels  arofe  with  healing  under  his  wings,  the  difmterefted 
populace,  who  lay  all  neglefted  and  forlorn,  benighted  with 
ignorance,  and  benumbed  with  vice,  faw  the  light,  and  hailed  the 
brightnels  of  its  rifing.  Up  they  fprang,  and  after  him  in  mul- 
titudes, men,  women,  and  children  went.  Was  he  to  pafs  a  road, 
they  climbed  the  trees  to  fee  him,  yea  the  blind  fat  by  the  way 
fide  to  hear  him  go  by.  Was  he  in"  a  houfe,  they  unroofed  the 
building  to  come  at  him.  As  Ifthey.could  never  get  near  enough 
CO  hear  the  foft  accents  of  his  voice,  they  preffed,  they  crowded, 
they  trod  upon  one  another  to  furround  him.  When  he  retired 
into  tlie  wildernefo,  they  thought  him  another  Moles,  and  would 
,have  made  him  a  king.     It  was  the  fineft  thing  they  could  think 

of. 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.         333 

but,  '  Verily,  verily,  I  fav  unto  you.'  He  delivered  his 
do6trines,  not  only  as  the  do£lrines  of  the  Father,  but  as 
his  own.  He  gave  forth  his  commands,  not  as  the  pro- 
phets were  wont  to  do,  merely  as  God's  commands,  but 
as  his  own,  '  This  is  my  commandment,'—'  Ye  are  my 
friends  if  ye  do  whatfoever  I  command  you.'  [John  xv. 
12,   14.] 

Another  thing  that  Chrift  was  employed  in  during  the 
courfe  of  his  miniftry,  was  working  nr.racles.  Concerning 
which  we  may  obferve  feveral  things. 

Their  multitude.  Behdes  particular  inftances,  we  of- 
ten have  an  account  of  multitudes  coming  at  once  with 
difeafes,  and  his  healing  them. — They  were  works  of 
mercy.  He  went  about  doing  good,  healing  the  fick,  re- 
rtoring  fight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  and  the 
proper  ufe  of  their  limbs  to  the  lame  and  halt  ;  feeding 
the  hungry,  cleanfing  the  leprous,  and  railing  the  dead. 
— They  were  almoft  all  of  them  fuch  as  had  been  fpokeii 
of  as  the  peculiar  works  of  God,  in  the  Old  Teftament. 
Such  were  ftilling  the  waves  of  the  fea.  [Pfal.  cvii.  29.] 
Walking  on  the  fea  in  a  ftorm  :  [Job  ix.  8.]  Cafting  out 
devils:  [Pfal.  Ixxiv.  14.]  Feeding  a  multitude  in  a 
wildernefs :  [Deut.  viii.  16.]  Difcerning  men's  thoughts: 
[Amos  iv.  13.]  Raifmg  the  dead:  [Pfal.  Ixviii.  20.] 
Opening  the  eyes  of  the  blind  :  [Pfal.  cxlvi.  8.]  Heal- 
ing the  fick  :.  [Pfal.  ciii.  3.]  And  lifting  up  thofe  who 
are  bowed  together  :  [Pfal.  cxlvi.  8.]— They  were  in  ge- 
neral fuch  works  as  were  images  of  the  great  work  which 
he  came  to  work  on  men's  hearts  ;  reprefenting  that  in- 
ward, fpiritual  cleaniing,  healing,  renovation,  and  refur- 
jection,  which  all  his  redeemed  arc  the  fubjc6ts  of.— 
He  wrought  them  in  fuch  a  manner  to  Ihow  that  he  did 

them 

of.  He,  greater  than  the  grcateft  monarch,  defpifcd  worldly  gran- 
deur ;  but  to  fiilfil  prophecy,  ikting  upon  a  borrowed  als's  colt, 
rode  into  Jerufalcm  the  Son  of  the  High^fJ,  and  allowed  the  tranf- 
ported  multitude  to  llrew  ttie  way  with  garments  and  branches, 
;'ind  to  aroulc  the  infenfible  metropolis  with  acclamations,  the  very 
children  ihouting,  '  Hofannah!  Hofannah  in  the  Highcil; !  Hofan- 
*  nah  to  the  fon  of  David  !  Bleffed  be  he  that  conieth  in  the  name 
'  of  tjie  Lord  !"    [Robjn son's  Diff.  prefixed  to  Claude,  p.  xxvii.] 


334        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

them  by  his  own  power,  and  not  by  the  power  of  another, 
as  the  other  prophets  did.  They  were  w^ont  to  work 
all  their  miracles  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  but  Chrifl 
wrought  in  his  own  name.  Mofes  was  forbidden  to  enter 
into  Canaan,  becaufe  he  feemed  by  his  fpeech  to  aflbme 
the  honour  of  working  only  one  miracle  to  himfclf.  [See 
Numbers  xx.  8— -13.]  Nor  did  Chrift  work  miracles  as 
the  apoftles  did,  who  wrought  them  all  in  the  name  of 
Chrifl:  ;  but  he  wrought  them  in  his  own  name,  and  by 
his  own  authority  and  will :  Thus,  faith  he,  '  I  will,  be 
'  thou  clean.'  [Matt.  viii.  3.]  And  in  the  fame  fl;rain  he 
put  the  queftion,  '  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this?' 
[Matt.  ix.  28.]    ' 

Another  thing  that  Chrifl:  did  in  the  courfe  of  his  mi- 
niflry,  was  to  call  his  difciples.  He  called  many  difciples, 
whom  he  employed  as  miniflers  ;  he  fent  feventy  at  one 
time  into  his  work  :  but  there  were  twelve  that  he  fet 
apart  as  apoflles,  who  were  the  grand  miniflers  of  his 
kingdom,  and,  as  it  were,  the  twelve  foundations  of  his 
church.  [See  Rev.  xxi.  14.]  Thefe  were  the  main  in- 
fi:ruments  of  fctting  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  and 
therefore  fliall  fit  on  twelve  thrones,  judging  the  twelve 
tribes  of  Ifrael.   [Matt.  xix.  28.] 

[4.]  I  would  obfcrve  how  he  finiflied  his  miijiftry.  And 
this  was- —In  giving  his  dying  counfcl  to  his  difciples, 
which  we  have  recorded  in  the  xivth,  xvth,  and  xvith  chap- 
ters of  John's  gofpel.— bi  inftituting  a  folemn  memorial 
of  his  death,  namely,  tlic  facranient  of  the  Lord's  fupper, 
wherein  we  have  a  reprefentation  of  his  body  broken,  and 
oi'  his  blood  flied.    (k)— In  oitcring   up   himfelf,  without 

blemifh, 

(k)  How  Clr/ijl  finlp,oecl  hU  mWiJhy.-^  "  T!ic  feaft  of  the 
paflbvcr  drew  nigh,  at  which  he  knew  that  lie  was  to  fuffer.  The 
night  was  arrived,  wherein  he  was  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  his  enemies.  He  had  fpcnt  the  evening  in  conference  with  his  , 
difciples  ;  like  a  dying  father  in  the  midll  of  his  family,  mingling 
coi.folations  with  his  lall  inilruftions.  '  When  he  had  ended  his 
difcourfe  to  them,  he  *  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,'  and  •  •  •  • 
began  that  folemn  prayer  of  interceffion  for  the  church,  which 
clofcd  his  minillry.     Immediately  after  he  went  forth  with  his 

disciples 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        335 

blemifli,  a  facrifice  to  God,  which  he  did  in  his  laft  fuf- 
fcrings,  as  God's  anointed  prieft  :  and  it  was  the  greateft 
a6l  of  his  public  miniftiy,  and  indeed  of  his  obedience. 
The  priefts  of  old  ufed  to  do  many  otiier  things  as  God's 
minifters :  but  were  then  in  the  higheft  execution  of  their 
office,  when  they  were  offering  facrifices  on  the  altar.  So 
the  greateft  thing  that  Chrill:  did  in  the  execution  of  his 
prieftly  office,  and  indeed  the  greateft  thing  that  ever  was 
done,  was  the  offering  up  hinifelf  a  facrifice  to  God. 
Herein  he  was  the  antitype  of  all  that  had  been  done  by 
all  the  priefts,  in  all  their  facrifices  and  offerings,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world. 

(3,)  The  third  diflribution  of  the  afts  by  which  Chrlft 
purchafed  redemption,  regards  the  virtues  that  he  exer- 
cifed  and  manifefted  in  them,  which  were  every  poffible 
virtue  and  grace.  Indeed  there  are  fome  particular  vir- 
tues that  fmful  man  may  have,  that  were  not  in  Chrift  ; 
not  from  any  want  or  defe6l  of  virtue,  but  becaufe  his 
virtue  was  perfe6i:  and  without  defect.  Such  are  repen- 
tance, brokennefs  of  heart  for  fm,  and  mortification  of 
lull:.  Thofe  virtues  were  not  in  Chrift,  becaufe  he  had 
no  fin  of  his  own  to  repent  of,  nor  any  luft  to  deny. 
But  all  virtues  which  do  not  pre-fuppofe  ftn,  were  in 
him,    ..nd  that   in   a  higher  degree   than   ever  they  were 

in 

difciples  into  the  garden  of  Getlifemane,  and  furrendered  himfelf 
to  thofe  who  came  to  apprehend  him. 

"  Such  was  the  fituation  of  our  Lord He  faw  his  mlf- 

fion  on  the  point  of  being  accompliflied.  He  had  the  profpedl 
full  before  him  of  all  that  he  was  about  to  fuiFer.  '  Father  !  the 
*  hour  is  come.'  What  hour  ?  An  hour  the  mofl  critical,  the 
moil  pregnant  with  great  events,  fince  hours  had  begun  to  be 
numbered,  fince  time  had  begun  to  run.  It  was  the  hour  in 
which  the  Son  of  God  was  to  terminate  the  labours  of  his  im- 
portant life,  by  a  death  ftill  more  important  and  illulbious ;  the 
hour  of  atoning,  by  his  fufFerlngs,  for  the  guilt  of  mankind  ;  the 
hour  of  accomplifliing  prophecies,  types,  and  fymbo's,  whicli 
had  been  carried  on  through  a  feries  of  ages ;  the  hour  of  con- 
cluding the  old,  and  of  introducing  to  tlic  world  the  new  dif- 
penfation  of  religion  ;  the  hour  of  his  triumphing  over  the  world, 
and  death,  and  hell ;  the  hour  of  his  erefting  that  fpiritual  king- 
dom which  is  to  Jail  for  ever.  Such  is  the  hour,  fuch  are  the 
events,  which  you  are  to  commemorate  in  the  facrament  of  oui- 
Lord's  fupper."      [Dr.  Blair's  Sermons,  vol,  i.  Ser.  5.] 


336  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

in  any  other  man,  or  any  mere  creature  ;  every  virtue  in 
him  was  perfeiS^,  virtue  itfelf  was  greater  in  him  than  in 
any  other  ;  and  it  was  under  greater  advantages  to  fhine  in 
him  than  in  any  other.  Stridl  virtue  (liines  moft  when 
moll  tried  ;  but  never  any  virtue  had  fuch  trials  as  ChriiVs 
had. — The  virtues  that  Chrifl  exerciled  may  be  divided 
into  three  forts,  thofe  which  more  immediately  relpevft 
God,  himfclf,  and  other  men. 

Thofe    virtues   which    more    immediately  refpedl   God, 
appeared  in  the  work  which  Chrifl:  did   for  our  redemp- 
tion.    There  appeared  in  him  an  holy  fear  and  reverence 
towards  God  the  Father.     Chrift  had  a  greater  trial  of  his 
virtue  in  this  refpecSl  than   any  other  had,  from  the  ho- 
nourablenefs   of  his  perfon.     This  was  the  temptation  oi 
the  angels  that  fell,  to  cafl:  off  their  worlhip  of  God,   and 
reverence  of  his   majefty,   that  they  were  beings  of  fuch 
exalted  dignity  and  worthinefs  themfelves.     [See  i  Tim. 
iii.  6.]     But  Chrifl;  was  inhnitely  more  worthy  and  ho- 
nourable than  they  ;  for  he  was  the  eternal  Son  of  God, 
and  his  perfon  was  equal  to  the  perfon  of  God  the  Father  : 
and  yet,  as  he  had  taken  on  him  the  office  of  mediator, 
and  the  nature  of  man,  he  was  full   of  reverence  towards 
God.     He  adored  him  in  the  mofl  reverential  manner  time 
after  time.      So  he  manifefted   a  wonderful  love  towards 
God.     The  angels  give  great  teftimony  of  their  love  to- 
wards God,   in  their  conftancy  and  agility   in  doing  the 
will  of  God  ;   and  many  faints  have  given  great  tefliimo- 
nies  of  their  love  to  God,  by  having  endured  great  labour? 
and  fufFerings :    but   none  ever  gave  fuch  teflimonies  of 
love  to  God  as  Chrift  has  ;  none  ever   performed  fuch  a 
labour  of  love  as  he  did,  or  fufFered  fo  much  from  love  to 
God.      So  alfo  he  manifefted  the  moft  wonderful  fubmif- 
lion  to  the  will  of  God.     Never  was  any  one's  fubmiffion 
fo  tried  as  he  was. 

In  this  work  he  moft  wonderfully  manifefted  thofe 
virtues  which  more  immediately  refpedled  himfclf;  as 
particularly  humility,  patience,  contempt  of  the  world. 
Chrift,  though  he  was  the  moft  excellent  and  honourable 
of  all  men,  yet  was  the  moft  humble  ;  yea,  he  was  the 

moft 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.         337 

moft  humble  of  all  creatures.  No  angel  or  man  ever 
equalled  him  in  humility,  though  he  was  the  higheft 
of  all  creatures  in  dignity  and  honour.  Chriit  would 
have  been  under  the  greateft  temptation  to  pride,  if  it 
had  been  pofTible  for  any  thing  to  have  tempted  him. 
The  temptation  of  the  angels  that  fell  was  the  dignity  of 
their  nature,  and  the  honourablenefs  of  their  circum- 
flances ;  but  Chrifl  was  infinitely  more  honourable  than 
they.  The  human  nature  of  Chrift  was  fo  honoured  as 
to  be  in  the  fame  perfon  with  the  eternal  Son  of  God, 
who  was  equal  with  God  ;  and  yet  that  human  nature 
was  not  at  all  lifted  up  with  pride.  Nor  was  the  man 
Chrift  Jefus  at  all  lifted '  up  with  pride,  with  all  thofe 
wonderful  works  which  he  wrought,  of  healing  the  fick, 
curing  the  blind,  lame,  and  maimed,  and  railmg  the 
dead.  And  though  he  knew  that  God  had  appointed 
him  to  be  the  king  over  heaven  and  earth,  angels  and 
men,  as  he  fays,   [Matt.  ix.  27.]    '  All  things  are  deliver- 

*  ed  unto  me  of  my  Father;'  though  he  knew  he  was 
fuch  an  infinitely  honourable  perfon,  and    '  thought  it  not 

*  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God  ;'  and  though  he  knew  lie 
was  the  heir  of  God  the  Father's  kingdom  ;  yet  fuch  was 
his  humility  that  he  did  not  difdain  to  be  abafed  and 
deprcffed  down  into  lower  and  viler  circumftances  and 
fufferings  than  ever  any  other  cledl  creature  was;  fo  thai 
he  became  leaft  and  lowell:  of  all.  The  proper  trial  and 
evidence  of  humility  is  ftooping  or  complying  with  thofe 
adVs  or  circumftances,  when  called  to  it,  which  are  very 
low,  and  contain  great  abafement.  But  none  ever  ftoop- 
ed  fo  low  as  Chrift,  if  we  confider  either  the  infinite 
height  that  he  ftooped  from,  or  great  depth  to  which  he 
ftooped.  Such  was  his  humility,  that  though  he  knew 
himfelf  to  be  infinitely  worthy  of  being  honoured  ten 
thoufand  times  more  than  the  higheft  prince  on  earth,  or 
angel  in  heaven  ;  yet  he  did  not  think  it  too  much  when 
called  to  it,  to  be  bound  as  a  curfed  malefadiior,  to  become 
the  laughing-ftock  of  the  vileft  of  men,  to  be  crowned 
with  thorns,  to  have  a  mock  robe  put  on  him,  aj\d  to  be 
crucified  like  a  flave  or  malcfadtor,  as  one  of  the  meanell 

X  X  .md 


538        HISTORY  OF   REDEMPTION, 

and  worfl:  of  vagabonds  and  mifcreants,  and  an  accurfed 
enemy  of  God  and  men,  who  was  not  fit  to  live  on  the 
eartli ;  and  this  not  for  himfelf,  but  for  fome  of  the 
mcaneft  and  vileft  of  creatures,  fome  of  thofe  accurfed 
wretches  that  crucified  him.  Was  not  this  a  wonderful 
nianifeftation  of  humility,  when  he  cheerfully  and  moft 
treely  fubmitted  to  this  abafement  ? — And  how  did  his 
patience  {liine  forth  under  all  the  terrible  fufferings  which 
he  endured,  when  he  was  dumb,  and  opened  not  his 
mouth,  but  went  as  a  lamb  to  the  flaughter,  and  was 
patient  under  all  the  fufferings  he  endured  from  firfl:  to 
laft. — And  what  contempt  of  the  glory  of  the  world 
was  there,  when  he  rather  chofe  this  meann^,  and  fuf- 
fcring,  than  to  wear  a  temporal  crown,  and  be  invefted 
with  the  external  glories  of  an  earthly  prince,  as  the  mul- 
titude often  foliciicd  him  ?  Chrift,  in  the  work  which 
he  wrought  out,  in  a  wonderful  manner  exercifed  thofe 
virtues  which  more  immediately  refpedl  other  men.  And 
tiiefe  may  be  fumnvoned  up  under  two  heads,  viz.meeknefs, 
and  love.  Chrift's  mecknefs  was  his  humble  calmnefs  of 
fpirit  under  the  provocations  he  met  with.  None  ever  met 
with  fo  great  provocations  as  he  did.  The  greatncfs  of  pro- 
vocation lies  in  two  things,  the  degree  of  oppofition  by  which 
the  provocation  is  given ;  and,  in  the  degree  of  the  w«- 
reafonablenefs  of  that  oppofition,  or  in  its  being  not  only 
without  reafon,  againft  the  greateft  degree  of  obligation  to 
the  contrary.  Now,  if  we  confider  both  thefe  things, 
no  man  ever  met  with  a  thoufandth  part  of  the  provoca- 
tion that  Chrift  met  with  from  men;  and  yet  how  meek 
was  he  under  all !  how  compofed  and  quiet  his  fpirit ! 
how  far  from  being  in  a  rufRe  and  tumult !  When  he 
was  reviled,  he  reviled  not  again;  and  ^  as  a  Iheep  before 
*  her  fliearers  is  dumb,  fo  he  opened  not  his  mouth.*  No 
appearance  was  there  of  a  revengeful  fpirit:  on  the  con- 
trary, what  a  fpirit  of  forgivenefs  did  he  exhibit !  fo  that 
he  fervently  and  effe6tually  prayed  for  the  forgivenefs  of  his 
enemies  when  they  were  in  the  highefl  act  of  provocation 
that  ever  they  perpetrated,  viz.  nailing  him  to  the  crofs: 
[Luke  xxiii.  34.]   '  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know 

'  not 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMFflON.         339 

*  not  what  they  do.'— And  never  did  there  appear  fiich 
an  inftance  of  love  to  men,  as  he  iliowed  when  on  earth, 
cfpecially  in  going  through  his  laft  fuffcrings,  and  offer- 
ing up  his  life  and  foul  for  them.  There  had  been  very 
remarkable  manifeftations  of  love  in  fome  of  the  faints, 
as  in  the  Apoftles  Paul,  John,  and  others;  but  the  love 
that  Chrift  fhowed  them  on  earth,  as  much  exceeded  the 
1  jve  of  all  other  men,  as  the  ocean  exceeds  a  imall  ftream- 

(L) 

And 

(l)  The  excellency  of  Chri/l's  character.]  "  He  fets  an 
example  of  the  moft  pcrfeft  piety  to  God,  and  of  the  moft  ex- 
tenfive  benevolence  and  tlie  moil  tender  compaffion  to  men.  He 
does  not  merely  exhibit  a  life  of  ftrift  jullice,  but  of  overflowing 
benignity.  His  temperance  has  not  the  dark  fliadesof  aiifterity; 
his  meeknefs  does  not  degenerate  into  apathy.  His  humilitv  is 
fignal,  amidft  a  fplendour  of  qualities  more  than  human.  His 
fortitude  is  eminent  and  exemplary,  in  enduring  the  moft  formi- 
dable external  evils  and  the  fharpeft  aftual  fufferings :  his  pa- 
tience is  invincible  ;  his  refignation  entire  and  abfolute.  Truth 
and  fmcerity  fhine  throughout  his  whole  conduft.  Though  of 
heavenly  decent,  he  (hews  obedience  and  affedtlon  to  his  eartlily 
parents.  He  approves,  loves,  and  attaches  himfelf  to  amiable 
qualities  in  the  human  race.  He  refpefts  authority,  religious  and 
civil;  and  h«  evidences  regard  for  his  country  by  promoting  its 
moft  eflential  good  in  a  painful  miniftry  dedicated  to  its  fervlce, 
by  deploring  its  calamities,  and  by  laying  down  his  life  for  its  be- 
nefit. Every  one  of  his  eminent  virtues  is  regulated  by  confum- 
mate  prudence;  and  he  both  wins  the  love  of  his  friends,  and  ex- 
torts the  approbation  and  wonder  of  his  enemies. 

"  Never  was  a  chara6ler  at  the  fame  time  fo  commanding  and 
natural,  fo  refplendent  and  pleafing,  fo  amiable  and  venerable. 
There  is  a  peculiar  contraft  in  it  between  an  awful  greatnefs,  dig- 
nity and  majefty,  and  the  moft  conciliating  lovelinefs,  tender- 
nefs,  and  foftnefs.  He  nov/  converfes  with  prophets,  lawgivers, 
and  angels ;  and  the  next  inftant  he  meekly  endures  the  dulnefa 
of  his  difciples  and  the  blafphemies  and  rage  of  the  multitude. 
He  now  calls  himfelf  greater  than  Solomon,  one  who  can  com- 
mand legions  of  angels,  the  giver  of  life  to  whomfoever  he  pleaf- 
eth,  the  Son  of  God,  who  fhall  i'lt  on  his  glorious  throne  to 
judge  the  world.  At  other  times  we  find  him  em.bracing  young 
children,  not  lifting  up  his  voice  in  the  ftreets,  not  breaking 
the  bruifed  reed,  nor  quenching  the  fmoaking  flax;  calling  his 
difciples,  not  Icrvants,  but  friends  and  brethren,  and  comforting 
them  with  an  exulrerant  and  parental  affeftlon.  Let  us  paufe  an 
hiftant,    and  fill  our  minds  with  the  idea  of  one  who  knew  all 

X  X  2  things 


340        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  all  the  virtues  which  ap- 
peared in  Chrift  fhone  brighteft  in  the  clofe  of  his  life, 
under  the  trials  he  then  met  with.  Eminent  virtue  al- 
^yays  fho-.vs  brighteft  in  the  fire.  Pure  gold  fhows  its 
purity  chiefly  in  the  furnace.  It  was  chiefly  under  thofe 
trials  which  Chrift  underwent  in  the  clofe  of  his  life,  that 
his  love  to  God,  and  his  regard  to  the  honour  of  his  law; 
his  fpirit  of  obedience,  humility,  and  contempt  of  the 
world ;  his  patience,  meeknefs,  forgivenefs  towards  men, 
appeared.  Indeed  every  thing  that  Chrift  did  to  work 
Qut  redemption  for  us  appears  chiefly  in  the  clofe  of  his 
life.  Here  chiefly  appears  the  merit  of  his  fatisfadlion,  and 
the  brightnefs  of  his  example. 

Thus  we  have  taken  a  brief  view  of  the  things  v>'here- 
by  the  purchafe  of  redemption  was  made  with  refpeft  to 
his  r'lghteoufnefs  that  appeared  in  them. — I  proceed  now, 

4.  To  take  a  view  of  them  with  refpe6l  to  \h.Q  fatisfac- 
t'lon  that  he  thereby  made  for  fin,  or  the  fuffaings  and  humi- 
liation that  he  was  the  fubjedl  of  in  them,  on  our  account. 
And  here, 

(i.)  He  was  fubjedl  to  uncommot]  humiliation  and 
fuffering  in  his  infancy.  He  was  born  to  that  end  that 
he  might  die  ;  and  therefore  he  did,  as  it  were,  begin  to  die 
as  foon  as  he  was  born.  His  mother  fufi^ered  in  an  un- 
common manner  in  bearing  him.  When  her  travail 
came  upon  her,  it  is  faid,  '  there  was  no  room  in  the  inn.' 
[Luke  ii.  7.]   She  was  forced  to  betake  herfelf  to  a  ftable; 

and 

things  heavenly  and  earthly,  fearched  and  laid  open  the  inmoft 
recelfes  of  the  heart,  redlified  every  prejudice,  and  removed  every 
miftake  of  a  moral  and  religious  kind  ;  by  a  \yord  cxercifed  a  fove- 
reignty  over  all  nature,  penetrated  the  hidden  events  of  futurity, 
gave  promifes  of  admiflion  into  a  happy  immortahty,  had  the 
keys  of  life  and  death,  claimed  an  union  with  the  Father ;  and 
yet  was  pious,  mild,  gentle,  humble,  affable,  focial,  benevolent, 
friendly,  affeftionate.  Such  a  character  is  fairer  than  the  morn- 
ing ftar.  Each  feparate  virtue  is  made  ftronger  by  oppofition  and 
contrail ;  and  the  union  of  fo  many  .virtues  forms  a  brightnefs, 
v/hich  fitly  reprefents  the  glory  of  that  God,  '  who  inhabiteth 
*  light  inacceflible."  [Bp.  Newcome's  Obfcrvat.  on  our  Lord's 
Conduft,  Sic] 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.         341 

and  therefore  Chrift  was  born  in  the  place  of  the  bringing 
forth  of  beads.  Thus  he  fuffered  in  his  birth,  as  though 
he  had  been  meaner  and  viler  than  a  man,  and  notpofTeffed 
of  the  dignity  of  the  human  nature,  but  had  been  of  the 
rank  of  the  biute  creatures.  And  we  may  conclude,  that 
his  mother's  circumftances  in  other  refpecSls  were  propor- 
tJonably  ftrait  and  difficult,  and  that  (he  was  deftitute  of 
the  conveniences  neceflary  for  fo  young  an  infant  which 
others  were  wont  to  have ;  for  want  of  which  the  new-born 
babe  without  doubt  fuffered  much.— 

And  befides,  he  was  pcrfecuted  in  his  infancy :  they 
began  to  feek  his  life  as  foon  as  he  was  born.  Herod 
was  fo  defirous  to  kill  him,  that  in  order  to  it,  he  killed 
all  the  children  in  Betlileiiem,  and  in  all  the  coafls  there- 
of, from  two  years  old  and  under.  [Matt.  ii.  16.]  And 
Chrift  fuffered  baniihment  in  his  infancy,  was  driven  out 
ot  his  native  country  into  Egypt,  and  without  doubt  fuf- 
fered much  by  being  carried  fo  long  a  journey,  when  he 
was  fo  young,  into  a  ftrange  country . 

(2.)  Chrift  was  fubjecl  to  great  humiliation  in  his  pri- 
vate life  at  Nazareth  :  he  there  led  a  fervile  obfcure  life, 
in  a  mean  laborious  occupation ;  for  he  is  called  not  only 
the  carpenter's  y^//,  but  the  carpenter:  [Mark  vi.  3.]  '  Is 
'  not  this  the  carpenter,  the  brother  of  James  and  Jofes, 
'  and  Juda,  and  Simeon?'  (m)  He,  by  hard  labour,  earned 
his  bread  before  he  ate  it,  and  fo  fuffered  that  curfe  which 
God  pronounced  on  Adam,  [Gen.  iii.  13.]  '  In  the 
'  fvveat  of  thy  face  flialt  thou  cat  bread.'  Let  us  confi- 
der  how  great  a  degree  of  humiliation  the  glorious  Son  of 

God 

(m)  "  It  is  no  uncommon  thing,  in  the  difpenfations  of  the 
only  wife  God,  to  keep  thofe  perfons  long  hidden  under  the  vail 
of  obfcurity,  whom  he  intends  fhall  make  the  moft  illuftrious  ap- 
pearances on  earth  ;  and  that  thofe  whom  infinite  Wifdom  hath 
appointed  for  the  emancipation  or  redemption  of  others,  as  pre- 
paratory to  that,  (liall  themfelves  experience  the  hardfhips  of  bon- 
dage, toil,  and  labour ;  fo  that,  like  the  rifing  fun,  they  may 
more  vifibly  ihed  their  light  upon,  and  fcnfibly  communicate 
their  ufefulnefs  to,  a  benighted  world.  Thus  Mofes,  Jofeph, 
Gideon,  and  ...  he  who  was  laughed  to  fcorn,  and  contemptu- 
pufiy  ftiled,  *  The  carpenter,  the  fon  of  Mary." 


342        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

God,  the  creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  was  fubje6l  to  in 
this,  that  for  about  thirty  years  he  Should  live  a  private 
obfcure  life,  and  ail  this  while  be  overlooked,  and  not 
more  regarded  than  other  labouring  men.  Chrift's  hu- 
miliation in  this  refpeil  was  greater  in  his  private  life, 
than  in  the  time  of  his  public  miniftry.  There  were 
many  manifeflations  of  his  glory  in  the  word  he  preach- 
ed, and  the  great  miracles  he  wrought :  but  the  firft  thirty 
years  of  his  life  he  fpent  among  mean,  ordinary  men,  as 
it  were  in  filence,  without  thofe  manifeftations  of  his 
glory,  or  any  thing  to  diflinguilh  him  except  the  fpotlefs 
purity  and  eminent  holinefs  of  his  life  ;  and  that  was  in  a 
great  nieafure  hid  in  obfcurity;  fo  that  he  was  little  takea 
notice  of  till  after  his  baptifm. 

(3.)  Chrift  was  the  fubje6l  ot  great  humiliation  and  fuf- 
fering  during  his  public  life,  from  hisbaptifm  till  the  night 
wherein  he  was  betrayed,  (n)      As  particularly. 

He  fuffered  great  poverty,  fo  that  he  had  not  '  where  to 
'  lay  his  head,'  [Matt.  viii.  20.]  and  commonly  ufed  to 
lodge  abroad  in  the  open  air,  for  want  of  a  flicker  to  be- 
take himielf  to  ;  [compare  the  following  places  together, 
Matt.  viii.  20.:  John  xviii.  i,  2-;  Luke  xxi.  37. — xxii. 
39.]  So  that  what  was  fpoken  of  Chrift  in  Canticles,  [v. 
2.]  '  My  head  is  filled  with  dew,  and  my  locks  with  the 
*  drops  of  the  night,'  was  literally  fulfilled.  And  through 
this  poverty  he  was  doubtlefs  often  pinched  with  hunger, 
and  third,  and  cold.  [Sec  Matt.  iv.  2.— xxi.  18.]  His 
jTiother  and  natural  relations  were  poor,  and  not  able  to 

help 

(n)  Jesus  suffered.]  "  The  Gentiles  acknowledged  it, 
the  Jews  triumphed  at  it.  ...  If  hunger  and  thirft,  if  revihngs 
and  contempt,  if  forrows  and  agonic,  if  ftripcs  and  buffettings, 
if  condemnation  and  crucifixion,  be  fuffering,  Jefus  fuffercd.  If 
the  jnlirmities  of  our  nature,  if  the  weight  of  our  fins,  if  the  ma- 
lice of  man,  if  the  machinations  of  Satan,  if  the  hand  of  God, 
could  make  him  fuffer,  our  Saviour  fujfered.  If  the  annals  of 
times,  if  the  writings  of  his  apollles,  if  the  death  of  his  martyrs, 
if  the  confcilion  of  Gentiles,  if  the  feoffs  of  the  Jews  be  tellinio- 
uies,  ]c[\\s  fiijfered.  Nor  was  there  ever'any  which  thought  he  did 
not  really  and  trv.lyfii^l:',  but  fuch  as  withal  irrationally  pretend- 
t:d  that  he  was  not  really  and  truly  man."  [Bp.  Pearson,  on  the 
Creed,  Art.  4.3 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        343 

help  him  ;  and  he  was  maintained  by  the  charity  of  fome 
of  his  difciples  while  he  lived.  So  we  read  [Luke  viii. 
2,  3.]  of  '  certain  women  that  followed  him,  and  minif- 

*  tered  to  him  of  their  fubftance.'  He  was  fo  poor,  that 
he  was  not  able  to  pay  the  tribute  that  was  demanded  of 
him,  without  miracle.  [Matt.  xvii.  27.]  And  when  he 
ate  his  iaft  palTover,  it  was  not  at  his  own  charge,  but  at 
the  charge  of  another.  [Luke  xxii.  7,  &c.]  Alfo  from 
his  poverty  he  had  no  grave  of  his  own  to  be  buried  in. 
It  was  the  manner  of  the  Jews,  unlefs  they  were  very 
poor,  to  prepare  themfelves  a  fepulchre  while  they  lived  ; 
but  Chrift  had  no  land  of  his  own,  though  he  was  pof- 
feflbr  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  and  therefore  was  buried  by 
Jofeph  of  Arimathea's  charity,  and  in  his  tomb,  which  he 
had  prepared  for  himfelf. 

He   fufFered  great  hatred  and  reproach.     '   He  was  def- 

*  pifed  and  reje6led  of  men.'  He  was  by  moft  ellecmed 
a  poor  infignihcant  perfon  ;  one  of  little  account,  flighted 
for  his  low  parentage,  and  his  mean  city,  Nazareth.  He 
was  reproached  as  a  glutton  and  drunkard,  a  friend  of  pub- 
licans and  fmners  ;  was  called  a  deceiver  of  the  people  ; 
fometimes  a  madman,  a  Samaritan,  and  one  poflefTed  with 
a  devil.  [John  vii.  20.— viii.  48.— x.  20.]  He  was  called 
a  blafphemer,  and  accounted  by  many  a  wizzard,  cr  one 
that  wrought  miracles  by  the  black  art,  and  by  communi- 
cation with  Beelzebub.  They  excommunicated  him,  and 
agreed  to  excommunicate  any  man  that  fliould  own  him. 
[John  ix.  22.]  They  wifhed  him  dead,  and  were  continu- 
ally feeking  to  murder  him ;  fometimes  by  force,  and 
fometimes  by  crafc.  They  often  took  up  ftones  to  ftone 
him,  and  once  led  him  to  the  brow  of  a  hill,  intending  to 
throw  him  down  the  precipice,  to  dafli  him  to  pieces 
againft  the  rocks.  [Luke  iv.  29.] — He  was  thus  hated  and 
reproached  by  his  own  vifible  people  :   [John  i.  i  i.J    '  He 

*  came  to  his  own,  and  his  own  received  him  not.'  And 
he  was  principally  defpifed  and  hated  by  thofe  who  were 
in  chief  repute,  and  were  the  greateft  men.  But  into 
whatever  part  of  the  land  he  went,  he^  met  with  hatred 
and  contempt.      He  met  with  thefc  in  Capernaum,   and 

when 


344        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

when  he  went  to  Jericho :  at  Jerufaleni,  which  was  thC 
holy  city,  when  he  went  to  the  temple  to  worfliip  ;  alfo 
in  Nazareth,  his  own  city,  and  among  his  own  relations-, 
and  neighbours. 

He  fufFered  the  biiffetings  of  Satan  in  an  uncommon 
manner.  We  read  [Matt,  i v.  i  — ii.]  of  one  time  in 
particular,  when  he  had  a  long  confii6l  with  the  devil, 
wlien  he  was  in  the  wildernefs  forty  days,  with  nothing 
but  wild  beafts  and  devils  ;  and  was  fo  expofed  to  the 
devil's  power,  that  he  was  bodily  carried  about  by  him 
from  place  to  place,  while  he  was  otherwife  in  a  very  fuf- 
fering  ftate.    (o) 

(4.)  I  come  now  to  the  evening  of  the  night  wherein  he 
was  betrayed.  And  from  this  time  was  his  greateft  humilia- 
tion and  fufFering,  by  which  principally  lie  made  fatisfac- 
tion  to  the  juftice  of  God  for  the  hns  of  men.  Firft,  his  life 
v/as  fold  by  one  of  his  own  difciples  for  thirty  pieces  ot 
fiiver,  which  was  the  price  of  the  life  of  a  fervant.  [Excd. 
xxii.  32.]     Then   he  was  in  luch  a  dreadful  agony  in  the 

garden, 

(o)  Chr't/l  TEMPTED  of  the  Devil.']  This  extraordinary  event 
has  been  much  the  fubjeft  of  infidel  ridicule  ;  and  fome  inge- 
nious writers,  to  avoid  the  difficulties  of  a  literal  interpretation, 
have  reduced  the  whole  to  vifion  and  allegory  ;  and  thus  involved 
It,  as  we  apprehend,  in  far  more  and  greater.  We  humbly  con- 
ceive, that  the  bed  way  to  avoid  difficulties  on  this,  and  many 
other  parts  of  facred  writ,  is  to  adhere  as  clofe  as  poffible  to  the 
language  of  infpiraticn,  fince  the  additions  of  puzzled  comm.en- 
tators  often  add  abfurdity  to  remove  doubts.  That  when  our 
Lord  retired  to  the  interior  part  of  the  wildernefs,  the  enemy  of 
mankind  fliould  affume  a  difguife,  (whether  human  or  angehc,  is 
not  important)  and  prefent  the  moll  plaufible  temptation  to  our 
Redeemer  under  thefe  trying  circumllances,  is  perfectly  confiilent 
with  the  malevolence  of  his  charafter ;  but  how  far  he  was  per- 
mitted to  exert  his  power  in  forming  them,  is  not  neceffary  to  be 
inquired.  The  grand  objeftion  is,  why  was  Satan  fufFered  thus 
to  infuk  the  Son  of  God  ?  Wherefore  did  the  Redeemer  fuffer  his 
ftate  of  retirement  to  be  thus  dillurbed,  with  the  malicious  fug- 
geftjons  of  the  fiend  ?  The  great  apoflle  furniflies  an  anfwer, 
equally  pertinent  and  confolatory — '  He  was  tempted  m  ^7// points 
*  like  as  we  are — that  he  might  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
'  infirmities — and  himfelf  having  fuftered  being  tempted,  he  is  able 
'  to  fixcour  them  that  are  tempted.'   [See  Heb.  ii.  18 — iv.  i  5.] 

[I.  N.] 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.         345 

garden,  that  there  came  fuch  a  horror  upon  his  foul, 
that  he  began  to  be  forrowful  and  very  heavy,  and  faid, 
[Mark  xiv.  33,  34.]  his  '  foul  was  exceeding  forrowful, 
'  even  unto  death,  and  was  fore  amazed.'  (p)  So  violent 
was  the  agony  of  his  foul,  as  to  force  the  blood  through 
the  pores  of  his  fl<Lin  ;  fo  that  he  was  overwhelmed  with 
amazing  forrow,  his  body  was  covered  with  blood.  The 
difciples,  who  ufed  to  be  his  friends  and  family,  now 
appear  cold,  and  unconcerned  for  him  at  the  time  his 
Father's  face  is  hid  from  him.  Judas,  whom  he  had 
treated  as  one  of  his  family,  or  familiar  friends,  comes  and 
betrays  him  in  the  moft  deceitful,  treacherous  manner. 
The  officers  and  foldiers  apprehend  and  bind  him.  His 
difciples  forfake  him  and  flee,  inflead  of  comforting  him 
in  his  dill:refs.  He  is  led  as  a  malefa6lor  before  the  priefls 
and  fcribes,  his  mortal  enemies,  that  they  might  fet  as 
his  judges  ;  and  they  fet  up  all  night,  to  enjoy  the  plea- 
fure  of  infulting  hjjn,  now  they  had  g'ot  him  into  their 
hands.  But  becaufe  they  aimed  at  nothing  fliort  of  his 
life,  they  fet  themfelvcs  to  find  fome  colour  to  put  him  to 
death,  and  feek  for  witnefTes  againft  him.  (q^)      When  none 

Y  y  appeared, 

(p)  Chr'ijl  EXCEEDING  forroivful.']  **  To  heighten  our  idea 
of  this  diftrefs,  the  evangeliils  make  ufe  of  the  moft  forcible  words, 

*  He  was  fe'i%ed  with  the  moft  alarming  ajion'ijhment.     He  was 

*  overivhelmed  with  infupportablc  dejedion.      He  was  bejteged  on  all 

*  fides,  as  it  were  with  an  army  of  invadingyibrrowj.      He  ivnjiledy 

*  amldft  ftrong  cries  and  tears,  not  only  with  the  malice  of  men 

*  and  rage  of  devils,  but  with  the  infinitely  more  dreadful  indig- 

*  nation  of  God  :  He  wreftled  even  unto  an  agony  of  fpirit.'  All 
thefc  circumftances  of  horror  and  angui(h  conftitute  what  a  cele- 
brated poet  veryjuftly  ftiles, 

♦  A  weight  of  woe,  more  than  ten  worlds  can  bear." 

[Hervey,  Theron  and  Afp.  vol.  i.  Dial.  4.] 

(q^)  The  yews  fought  a  pretence  ybr  tlie  death  of  Chrijl.~\ 
It  is  laid  in  the  M'ljhna.)  that  before  any  one  was  punifhed  for  a 
capital  crime,  proclamation  was  made  by  the  public  crier,  "  That 
if  any  perfon  could  teftify  the  innocence  of  the  prifoner,  they 
might  come  forward  and  declare  it."  On  which  the  Gemara  of 
Babylon  adds,  that  "  at  the  death  of  Jcfus  this  proclamation  was 
made  for  40  days,  but  no  defence  could  be  found."  But  we 
know  this  latter  affertion  to  be  falfe,  and  perhaps  the  injuftice  of 

this 


34<^        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

appeared,  they  employed  fome  to  bear  falfe  witnefs  ;  and 
when  their  witnefs  did  not  agree  together,  then  they  ex- 
amined him,  to  catch  fomething  out  of  his  own  mouth. 
They  hoped  he  would  fay,  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God, 
and  then  they  thought  they  fliould  have  enough.  And 
when  he  was  fdent  thev  adjured  him  in  the  name  of  God, 
to  fay  whether  he  was  or  not.  When  he  confeffed  thi«, 
they  fuppofed  they  had  enough ;  then  it  was  a  time  of 
rejoicing  with  theni^  which  they  ihow,  by  infulting  him, 
fpitting  in  his  face,  blindfolding  and  buffetting  him,  and 
then  bidding  him  prophefy  who  it  was  that  ftruck  him  ; 
thus  ridiculing  him  for  pretending  to  be  a  prophet.  And 
the  very  fervants  have  a  hand  in  the  cruel  fport :  [Mark 
xiv.  65.]  '  And  the  fervants  did  ftrike  him  with  the  palms 
of  their  hands.' 

During  the  fufFerings  of  that  night,  Peter,  one  of  the 
chief  of  his  own  difciples,  appears  aftiamed  to  own  him, 
and  denies  and  renounces  him  with  oaths  and  curfes.  And 
after  the  chief  priefts  and  elders  had  finifhed  the  night  in 
fo  fhamcfully  abufmg  him,  when  the  morning  was  come, 
which  was  the  morning  of  the  moft  wonderful  day  that 
ever  was,  they  led  him  away  to  Pilate,  to  be  condemned 
to  death  by  him,  becaufe  they  had  not  the  power  of  life 
and  death  in  their  own  hands.  He  is  brought  before  Pi- 
late's judgment  feat,  and  there  the  priefts  and  elders  accufe 
him  as  a  traitor.  And  when  Pilate,  upon  examining  into 
the  matter,  declared  he  found  no  fault  in  him,  the  Jews 
were  but  the  more  fierce  and  violent  to  have  him  con- 
demned. Upon  which  Pilate,  after  clearing  him,  very 
unjui^ly  brings  him  to  a  fecond  trial ;  and  then  not  finding 
any  thing  againft  him,  acqaits  him  again.  Pilate  treats 
him  as  a  poor  worthlefs  fellow  ;  but  is  afliamed  on  fo  little 
pretence  to  condemn  him  as  a  traitor. 

And 


this  ufual  privilege  being  denied  hlra,'  is  alluded  to  by  our  Lord 
himfelf.   [John  xviii.  20.  21.]    *  I  fpake  openly  to  the  world  .... 

*  Why  aflcefl  thou  me  ?  aflc  them  which  heard  me,  what  I  faid 

*  unto  them;  behold,  they  know  what  I  faid.']      Lowth's  Ifaiah, 
p.  241.     Compare  Note  u,  p.  249.] 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.        34.7 

And  then  he  was  fent  to  Herod  to  be  tried  by  him,  and 
was  brought  before  his  judgment  feat ;  his  enemies  fol- 
lowing, and  virulently  accufmg  him  as  a  traitor,  or  one 
that  would  fet  up  for  a  king ;  but  he  confiders  him  as  Pi- 
late did,  as  a  poor  creature,  not  worthy  to  be  taken  notice 
of,  and  does  but  make  a  mere  jcft  of  the  Jews,  accufmg 
him  as  a  dangerous  perfon  to  Casfar,  as  one  that  was  in 
danger  of  fetting  up  to  be  a  king  agalnft  him  ;  and  there- 
fore, in  derifion,  drelTes  him  in  a  mock  robe,  makes  fport 
of  him,  and  fends  him  back  through  the  ftreets  of  Jeru- 
falem,  to  Pilate,  with  it  on. 

Then  the  Jews  prefer  Barabbas  before  him,  and  are  in- 
flant  and  violent  with  loud  voices  to  Pilate,  to  crucify 
him.  So  Pilate  after  he  had  cleared  him  twice,  and  Herod 
once,  very  vinrighteoufly  brings  him  on  trial  the  third  time. 
Chrifl:  was  ftripped  and  fcourged  :  thus  he  gave  his  '  back 
*  to  the  fmiters.'  [Ifa.  1.  6.]  After  that,  though  Pilate 
flill  declared  that  he  found  no  fault  in  him  ;  yet  fo  tinjuft 
was  he,  that  for  fear  of  the  Jews  he  delivered  him  to  be 
crucitied.  But  before  they  execute  the  fentence,  his  fpite- 
ful  and  cruel  enemies  again  infult  and  torture  him.  They 
ftripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a  fcarlet  robe,  place  a  reed 
in  his  hand,  and  a  crown  of  thorns  on  his  head.  Both 
Jews  and  Roman  foldiers  were  united  in  the  tranfacStion  ; 
they  bow  their  knees  before  him,  and  in  derifion  cry,  '  Hail 
'  King  of  the  Jews.'  They  fpit  upon  him  alfo,  and  took 
the  reed  out  of  his  hand,  and  fmote  him  on  the  head. 
After  this  they  led  him  away  to  crucify  him,  and  made 
him  carry  his  own  crofs,  till  he  funk  under  it,  his  flrength 
being  fpent ;  and  then  they  laid  it  on  one  Simon  a  Cyrc- 
nian.  [Mat.  xxvii.  32.] 

At  length,  being  come  to  Mount  Calvary,  they  exe- 
cute the  fentence  which  Pilate  had  fo  unrighteoufly  pro- 
nounced. They  nailed  him  to  the  crofs  by  his  hands  and 
feet,  then  raife  it  ere61-,  and  fix  one  end  in  the  ground, 
he  being  flill  fufpended  on  it  by  the  nails  which  pierced 
his  hands  and  feet.  And  now  Chrift's  fufFerings  are  come 
to  the  extremity ;  now  the  cup  which  he  fo  earneftly 
Y  y  2  prayed, 


348        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

prayed  that  it  might  pafs  from  him,  (r)  is  come,  and  he 
muft,  he  does  drink  it.  [Ifa.  xxvi.  39.]  In  thofe  days  cru- 
cifixion was  the  moft  tormenting  death  by  which  any  were 
executed.  There  was  no  death  wherein  the  perfon  ex- 
pired fo  much  of  mere  torment :  and  hence  the  Roman 
word,*  which  fignifies  torment,  is  taken  from  this  kind 
of  death.-— And  befidcs  what  our  Lord  endured  in  this 
excruciating  death  in  his  body,  he  endured  vafllv  m.ore  in 
his  foul.  Now  was  that  travail  of  his  foul,  of  which  we 
read  in  the  prophet;  now  it  pleafed  God  to  bruife  him, 
and  to  put  him  to  grief  ;  now  <  he  poured  out  his  foul  unto 
*  death.'  [Ifa.  liii.  iq.]  And  if  the  m.ere  forethought  of 
this  cup  made  him  fweat  blood,  how  much  more  dreadful 
and  excruciating  muft  the  drinking  of  it  have  been  !  Many 
martyrs  have  endured  much  in  their  bodies,  while  their 
fouls  have  been  joyful,  and  have  fung  for  joy,  whereby 
they  have  been  fupported  under  the  fufFerings  of  their  out- 
ward man,  and  have  triumphed  over  them.  But  this  was 
not  the  cafe  with  Chrift  ;  he  had  no  fuch  fupport :  but 
his  fufFerings  were  chiefly  thofe  of  the  mind,  though  the 
others  were  extremely  great. 

Now  under  all  thelc  fufFerings  tlie  Jews  ftill  mock  him ; 
and  wagging  their  heads  fay,  [Matt,  xxvii.  40.]  '  Thou 
'  that  deftroyeft  the  temple  and  buildeft  it  in  three  days, 
'■  fave  thyfelf :  if  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  come  down 
'  from  the  crofs.'  Even  the  chief  priefts,  fcribes,  and 
elders,  joined  in  the  cry,  faying,   '  He  faved  others,  him- 

«  felf 


(r)  Let  this  cup  pafs  from  me.'\  "  This  was  the  voice  not 
only  of  refignation,  but  of  acquiefcence  and  cotyplacency.  Such 
a  deprecatory  requeft,  put  up  with  fo  much  earneftnefs,  yet  with 
fo  much  fubmilTion,  betrayed  not  any  wcaknefs  of  mind  ;  it  only 
Ibcwed  the  reality  of  our  Lord's  manhood;  that  his  fcnfations 
were  exadlly  like  ours  ;  that  he  afFefted  no  floical  apathy,  but 
willingly  endured,  not  proudly  difpifed,  tribulation  and  anguifli. 
It  demonftrated  likewife,  beyond  the  power  of  defcriptlon,  the 
extreme  feverity  and  almoft  infupportabJe  weight  of  our  Re- 
deemer's affiiftions."  [Hervey,  Theron  and  Afpaiio,  vol.  i. 
Dial.  4.;) 

*  Cruciotus. 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION,         349 

*  felfhe  cannot  fave.'  (s)  And  probably  the  devil  at  the 
fame  time  tormented  him  to  the  utmoll  of  his  power  ;  and 
hence  it  is  faid,  [Luke  xxii.  33.]  '  This  is  your  hour,  and 
'  the  power  of  darknefs.' 

Under  thefe  fuftcrings,  Chrift  having  cried  out  once 
and  again  with  a  loud  voice,  at  lafl  he  faid,  '  It  is  linirticd, 
'  [John  xix.  20.]  and  bowed  the  head,  and  gave  up  the 
'  ghofr.'   (t)     And  tlius  was  finifhed  the  greatcll  work 

that 

(s)  tljMS^LF  I'je  cannoifave.l  SoCelsus,  that  bitter  enemy 
of  Chriftianity,  tauntingly  cries,  **  Why,  in  the  name  of  wonder, 
does  he  not  on  this  occafion,  at  lead,  aft  the  God  ?  Why  does 
he  not  deliver  himfelf  from  this  fhocking  ignominy,  or  execute 
fome  fignal  vengeance  on  the  author  of  fuch  impious  and  abu- 
five  infults,  both  of  himfelf  and  his  Father  ?"— Why,  Ce/fus  ? 
Becaufe  on  his  death  depends  the  falvation  of  mankind,  and 
thereby  is  purchafed  that  pardon  which  the  gofpel  proclaims  to 
finncrs,  fuch  as  Celfus. 

*'  There  hangs  all  human  hope,  that  nail  fupports 
The  falling  univerfe" Young. 

"  You  indeed,  (continues  the  heathen)  take  upon  you  to  de- 
ride the  images  of  our  deities  ;  but  if  Bacchus  himfelf,  or  Hsr- 
fules  had  been  prcfent,  you  would  not  have  dared  to  offer  fuch 
an  affront;  or,  if  you  had  been  fo  prefumptuoiis,  would  have 
feverely  fmarted  for  your  infolence."  Yes,  Ce/fus ;  fuch  is  the 
revengeful  fpirit  of  your  gods;  but  ^cfus  exhibits  an  inftance  of 
patience,  meeknefs,  and  compaOion  equally  oppofite  to  your  tem- 
per and  that  of  your  fanguinary  idols.  [Vide  Orig.  contra.  Celf. 
81.404.]  _         _  [P.] 

(t)  He  gave  up  the  ghoJl.~\  The  late  ingenious  Mr.  Fergu- 
son has  fhown,  from  accurate  aftronomical  obfervations,  that  the 
day  on  which  our  Lord  was  crucified,  was  "  the  14th  of  the 
month  N'tfan,  anfwering  (in  that  year)  to  the  3d  of  April,  .... 
in  the  33d  year  of  his  age,"  fince  that  was  the  only  year  in  which 
the  paffoverfell  on  a  Friday,  "  between  the  20th  and  40th  year 
of  the  vulgar  aera  of  Chrift's  birth." 

The  fame  philofophcr  has  obferved,  that  the  darknefs  which 
covered  the  land  at  this  time,  could  not  be  a  natural  one,  becaufe 
the  fun  can  never  be  eclipfed  in  a  natural  way  but  at  the  time  of 
nevy-  moon,  and  our  Saviour  was  crucified  at  the  time  of  the  paff- 
ovcr,  when  the  moon  wasy«//;  we  have  another  proof  of  this 
from  the  continuance  of  that  darknefs  for  three  hours  ;  for  the 
lun  can  never  be  eclipfed  totally  in  a  natural  way  for  more  than 
five  minutes  of  time  to  any  one  place  of  the  eaith. — How  dread- 
Ailly  folemn  was  this  fcene ! 

"  The  fim  belield  it — No,  the  fhock-ng  fcenc- 

Drove 


350        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

that  ever  was  done  ;  now  the  angels  beheld  the  moft  won- 
derful fight  that  ever  was  feen  :  now  was  accompliflied  the 
main  thing  that  had  been  pointed  at  by  the  various  infti- 
tutions  of  the  ceremonial  law,  and  by  all  the  typical  dif- 
penfarions  and  by  all  the  facrifices  from  the  beginning  of 
die  world,  (u) 

Chrift  being  thus  brought  under  the   power  of  death, 
continued  under  it  till  the  morning  of  the  next  day  but 
one  :   (w)  and  then  was  finiflied  that  great  work,  the  pur- 
chafe 

Drove  back  hie  chariot ;  midnight  veil'd  his  face  : 

....  Not  fuch  as  nature  makes  ; 

A  midnight,  nature  lliudder'd  to  behold  ; 

A  midnight  new,  a  dread  eclipfe  (without 

Oppofmg  fpheres)  from  her  Creator's  frown  ! 

Sun,  didll  thou  fly  thy  Maker's  pain  ?  or  dart 

Al.  that  enormous  load  of  human  guilt, 

Which  bovv'd  his  blefTed  head  ;  o'erwhelm'd  his  crofs ; 

Made  groan  the  creature  ;  burft  earth's  marble  womb 

With  pangs,  ftrange  pangs  !   deliver'd  of  her  dead  ? 

Hell  howl'd  ;  and  heav'n  that  hour  let  fall  a  tear  ; 

Heav'n  wept  that  man  might  fmile  !   heav'n  bled  that  man 

Might  never  die  i" — — 

[Young's  Night  Thoughts,  IV.] 
(u)  The  TYPES  no-w  all  accompTiJhed.~\  "  In  this  hour,  the 
long  feries  of  prophecies,  vifions,  types,  and  figures  was  accom- 
plifhed  ;  this  v.^as  the  center  in  which  they  all  met ;  .this  the  point 
towards  which  they  had  tended  and  verged  throughout  the  courfe 
of  fo  many  generations.  You  behold  the  law  and  the  propiiets 
Aanding,  if  we  may  fpeak  fo,  at  the  foot  of  the  crofs,  and  doing 
homage.  You  behold  Mofes  and  Aaron  bearing  the  ark  of  the 
covenant  ;  David  and  Elijah  prefenting  the  oracle  of  teltimony. 
You  behold  all  the  priefts  and  facrifices,  all  the  rites  and  ordi- 
nances, all  the  types  and  fymbols,  afl'embled  together  to  receive 
their  confummation.  Without  the  death  of  Chrift,  the  worfhip 
and  ceremonies  of  the  law  would  have  remained  a  pompous,  but 
unmeaning  inftitution.  In  the  hour  when  he  was  crucified,  '  the 
*  book  with  the  feven  feals'  was  opened.  Every  rite  affunied  its 
fignificancy,  every  prediction  met  its  event,  every  fymbbl  difplay- 
ed  its  correfpondence."      [Blair's  Sermons,  vol.  i.  Ser.  5.3 

(w)  Chrijl  cO'AiiriVf.'O  unckr  the po'-Mcr  of  ikaihr^  During  this 
period,  fome  have  fuppofed  our  Lord  defcended  below  the  grave, 
and  '  preached  to  \k\ti  fp'irits,^ — either  m  llnihus  patrum,  purgatory, 
or  even  hell  itfelf.  The  two  former  of  thefe  opinions  have  been 
maintained  by  Popifn  writers,  and  fulHciently  anfwered  by  Pro- 
teflants  :  but  the  latter  notion  fuppofes  that  Chrift:  after  his  death 

wcut. 


THE  PURCHASE  OF  REDEMPTION.         351 

chafe  of  our  iedemi>tion  ;  for  which  fuch  great  preparation 
had  been  made  from  the  beginning  of  the  world.     Then 

waj 

went  down  among  the  damned,  preached  falvation  there,  and  ac- 
tually converted  and  delivered  many  of  the  unhappy  fpirits  therein 
confined.  The  text  here  alluded  to  [i  Pet.  iii.  19,  20.]  has  been 
already  cited,  with  Dr.  Doddridge's  ingenious  paraphiale,  Note  n, 
page  106,  where  we  promifed  to  confider  this  extraordinary  opi- 
nion, againft  which  the  following  objedtions  appear  to  U3  impor- 
tant and  decifive. 

1.  The  fpirk  '  by  which  he  went  and  preached,'  was  not 
Chrift's  human  foul,  but  a  divine  nature,  or  rather  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit, *  by  which'  he  was  quickened,  and  raifcd  from  the  dead. 

2.  Chrift  when  on  the  crofs  promifed  the  penitent  thief  his  pre- 
fence  that  day  in  Paradife,  and  accordingly  when  he  died  com- 
mitted his  foul  into  his  heavenly  Father's  hand  ;  in  heaven,  there- 
fore, and  not  in  hell,  we  are  to  feck  the  feparate  fpirit  of  cur 
Redeemer  in  this  period.   [Lukexxiii.  43,  46.] 

3.  Had  our  Lord  defcended  to  preach  falvation  to  the  damned, 
there  is  no  fuppofeable  reafon  why  the  unbelievers  in  Noah's  time 
only  fhould  be  mentioned,  rather  than  thofe  of  Sodom,  and  the 
unhappy  multitude  who  died  in  fin. 

4.  Granting  the  faft,  that  our  Saviour  defcended  into  hell,  (of 
which  in  a  fubfequent  note)  we  have  no  intimation  of  his  preach- 
ing being  attended  with  any  more  fucccfs  than  that  of  his  fervant 
Noah.  Some,  indeed,  were  raifed  from  the  dead  at  this  time,  and 
no  doubt  thefe  would  have  been  taken  for  fome  of  the  unhappy 
fpirits  releafcd,  and  permitted  to  return  to  earth,  had  net  the 
fcripture  exprefsly  told  us  that  they  were  the  bodies  oi  faints. 
[Matt,  xxvii.  52.] 

5.  So  far  from  any  intimation  of  fuch  deliverance,  St.  Jude, 
fuhfequent  to  this,  mentions  the  finners  of  Sodom  fullering  the 
vengeance  of  eternal  fire  :  and  both  the  apoftles  Jude  and  Peter 
mention  the  Sodomites,  the  Ifraelites  that  periOied  for  their  rebel- 
lion in  the  wildernefs,  the  fallen  angels,  and  impenitent  finners  in 
general,  as  involved  in  one  common  ruin,  and  referved  to  the  *  day 

*  of  judgment  to  be  fun'ifiid-^  and  the  latter  includes  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  old  world  among  the  reft.  [See  Jude  5 — 8.  2  Pet. 
ii.  4—9.] 

6.  Oar   Lord  is  exprefs,  that,  *  he  that   believeth  fhall  mver 

*  come  into  condemnation — fliall  never  pcrifh  ;'  and  '  he  that  be- 

*  lieveth  not,  fi-.all  not  fee  life.' — not  come  '■jjherc  h.e  is.  [John  iii. 
36. — v.  24. — viii.  21.]  This  wc  fliall  have  occafion  to  notice 
farther  near  the  clofe  of  this  work. 

Is  it  faid  that  the  propofcd  fentiment  exceedingly  glorifies  tlie 
Redeemer,  and  greatly  adds  to  the  triumph  of  his  vcfurreition  ? 
Far  be  it  from  us  to  Icffen  the  Redeemer's  honour  :  but  let  us  not 
drcfs  up  the  oageanls  of  our  imagination  to  grcice  his  v;(ftory. 

The 


352  HISTORY    OF    ilEDEMPTION. 

was  finidied  all  that  was  required  in  order  to  fulfill  the 
threatenings  of  the  law,  and  all  that  was  neceffary  in  order 
to  fatisfy  divine  juftice  ;  then  the  utmoft  that  vindidlive 
juflice  demanded,  even  the  whole  debt,  was  paid.  Then 
was  finiflied  the  whole  of  the  purchafe  of  eternal  life. 


IMx^ROVEMENT   of   PERIOD  II. 

IN  furv eying  the  hiftory  of  redemption,  we  have  now 
fhown  how  this  work  was  carried  on  through  the  two  firfl 
periods  into  which  we  divided  it,  from  the  fall  to  the  incar- 
nation of  Chrift,  and  from  thence  to  the  end  of  the  time 
of  Chrift's  humiliation  ;  and  have  particularly  explained 
how  in  the  firft  of  thefe  periods  God  prepared  the  way  for 
Chrift's  appearing  and  purchafmg  redemption  ;  and  how, 
in  the  fecond  period,  that  purchafe  was  made  and  finiJJied. 
I  would  now  add  fome  improvement  of  what  has  been  faid 
on  both  thefe  fubjedls  in  conjunflion. 

I.  I  begin  with  an  uie  of  reproof;  a  reproof  of  three 
things ;  of  unbelief,  felf-righteoufnefs,  and  a  carelefs  ne- 
gledl  of  the  falvation  of  Chrift. 

(i.)  If  the  things  above  particularly  recited  be  true,  iiow 
greatly  do  they  reprove  thofe  who  do  not  believe  in,  and 
heartily  receive  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  !  Perfons  may.  re- 
ceive him  in  profeffion,  and  may  wifli  that  they  had  fome 
of  thofe  benefits  that  Chrift  has  purchafcd,  and  yet  their 
hearts  not  receive  him  ;  they  may  be  lincere  in  nothing  that 
they  do  towards  him  \  they  may  have  no  high  efteem  of 
him,  nor  any.  real  refpedl  to  him.  Though  their  hearts 
have  been  opened  wide  to  others,  yet  Chrift  has  alwavs 
been  fhutout,  and  they  have  been  deaf  to  all  his  imitations. 
They  never  found  an  inclination  of  heart  to  receive  him, 
nor  v/ould  they  ever  truft  in  him. 

Let 

Tlie  apoltle  defcribing  the  magnificence  of  this  event,  fays,  [Col. 
ii.  15.J  that  *  he  fpoiied  principalities  and  powers — made  a  ihew 
'  of  them  openly:'  but  adds  nothing  of  the  fouls  delivered  from 
liell,  though  he  would  hardly  have  omitted  fuch  afaft.      [G.  E.] 


IMPROVEMENT    OF   PERIOD   II.         353 

Let  me  now  call  upon  you,  to  confider  how  great  your 
fin,  in  thus  rejecting  Jelus  Chrift,  appears  to  be  from 
thofe  things  that  have  been  faid.  You  flight  the  glorious 
perlbn,  for  whofe  coming  God  made  fuch  great  prepara- 
tions in  fuch  a  ferics  of  wonderful  providences  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world,  and  who,  after  all  things  were 
made  ready,  God  fent  into  the  world,  bringing  to  pafs  a 
thing  before  unknown,  viz.  the  union  of  the  divine  na- 
ture with  the  human  in  one  perfon.  You  have  been 
guilty  of  flighting  that  great  Saviour,  who,  after  fuch 
preparation,  adVually  accompliihed  the  purchafe  of  re- 
demption ;  and  who,  after  he  had  fpent  three  or  four 
and  thirty  years  in  poverty,  labour,  and  contempt,  in 
purchafing  redemption,  at  laft  hniflied  the  purchafe  by 
clofjng  his  life  under  fuch  extreme  fufFerings  as  you  have 
lieard  ;  (y)  and  fo  by  his  death,  and  continuing  for  a 
time  under  the  power  of  death,  completed  the  whole. 
This  is  the  Saviour  you  reject  and  defpife.  You  make  light 
of  all  the  glory  of  his  perfon,  and  all  the  love  of  a  Fa- 
ther, in  fending  him  into  the  world,  and  the  Son's  com- 
paffion  in  the  whole  of  this  affair.  That  precious  ftone 
that  God  hath  laid  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  in  fuch  a 
manner,  and  by  fuch  wonderful  works  as  you  have  heard, 
is  a  ftonc  fet  at  nought  by  you. 

Sinners  fometimes  are  ready  to  wonder  why  unbelief 
fliould  be  looked  upon  as  fuch  a  great  fm  :  but  if  you 
confider  what  you  have  heard,  how  can  you  wonder  ?  If 
it  be   fo,    that  this  is  fo  great  a  Saviour,  and  his  work  (o 

Z  z  gieat, 

(y)  Cbrijl  DIED  vn(/er  extreme fiifenngs.~\  Some  have  ventured 
to  compare  the  death  of  Socrates  with  that  of  Jesus  :  but  "  What 
an  infinite  difproportion  is  there  between  them  !  The  death  of 
Socrates,  peaceably  philofophiiing  with  his  friends,  appears  the 
mod  agreeable  that  could  be  wiflied  for;  that  of  Jesus,  infulted 
and  accufed  by  a  whole  nation,  is  the  moil  horrible  that  could  be 
feared.  Socrates,  in  receiving  the  cup  of  poifon,  bleffcd,  Indeed, 
the  weeping  executioner  that  admlnlliered  It;  but  Jesus,  In  the 
mldft  of  excruciating  tortures,  prayed  for  his  mercllefs  tormen- 
tors.— Yes,  if  the  life  and  death  of  Socrates  vicxt  thofe  of  ^fage, 
the  life  and  death  of  Jesus  were  thofe  of  a  God.  [Rosseau's 
Letter  to  iheAbp.  of  Paris.] 


354        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

great,  and  that  fuch  great  things  have  been  done  in  order 
to  it,  truly  there  is  no  caufe  of  wonder  that  the  reje6lioii 
of  this  Chrift  is  fpoken  of  in  fcripture  as  a  fin,  fo  pro- 
voking to  God,  and  attended  with  greater  aggravations 
than  the  worft  fins  of  the  heathen,  who  never  heard  of 
thofe  things,,  nor  have  had  this  Saviour  offered  to  them. 

(2.)  What  has  been  faid,  affords  matter  of  reproof  to 
thofe  who,  inflead  of  believing  in  Chrift,  truft  in  them- 
felves  for  falvation.  It  is  a  common  thing  with  men  to 
truft  in  their  prayers,  their  good  converiations,  the  pains 
they  take  in  religion,  the  reformations  of  their  lives,  and 
in  their  felf-denial,  to  make  fome  atonement  for  their  fins, 
and  to  recommend  themfelvcs  to  Go<l. 

Confider  three  things : 

[i.]  How  great  a  thing  tliat  is  whicli  you  take  upon 
you:  though  you  are  poor,  worthlefs,  polluted  worms  of 
the  duft ;  yet  fo  arrogant  are  you,  that  you  take  upon, 
you  that  work  which  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God  be- 
came man  to  capacitate  himfelf  for ;  and  in  order  to 
which  God  made  fo  great  preparation.  Confider  how 
vain  is  the  thought  which  you  entertain  of  ycurfelf ;  how 
muft  fuch  arrogance  appear  in  the  fight  of  Chrift,  whom 
it  coft  fo  much  to  make  a  purchafe  of  falvation,  when 
it  vv^as  not  to  be  obtained  even  by  him,  fo  great  and  glo- 
rious a  perfon,  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  his  wading  through 
a  fea  of  blood,  and  pafflng  through  the  midft  of  the  fur- 
nace of  God's  wrath. 

[2.1  If  there  be  ground  for  you  to  truft,  as  you  do, 
in  your  own  righteoufnefs,  then  all  that  Chrift  did  to 
purchafe  falvation  when  on  earth,  and  all  that  God  did 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  that  time  to  prepare  the  way  for 
it,  is  in  vain.  Your  feif-righteoufnefs  charges  God  with 
the  greateft  folly,  in  that  he  has  done  all  this  to  bring 
about  an  accompliflrment  of  what  you  alone,  a  little  worm, 
with  your  poor  polluted  fervices,  are  fufficient  to  accom- 
plilh.  For  if  you.  can  appeafe  God's  anger,  and.  can 
commend  yourfelf  to  him  by  thef6-  means,  then  you  have 
no  need  of  Chrift  ;  but  he  is  dead  in  vain  :  [Gal.  ii.  21.] 
'  If  righteoufnefs  come  by  the  law,  then  Chrift  is  dead  in 

'  vain.' 


IMPROVEMENT   OF   PERIOD   II.         355- 

*  vain.'— Alas !  how  blind  are  natural  men  !  How  vain 
are  the  thoughts  they  have  of  themfelvcs !  How  ignorant 
of  their  own  littlenefs  and  pollution  !  How  do  they  exalt 
rhcmfelves  up  to  heaven  !  What  great  things  do  they 
alTuine  to  themfelves  ! 

£3.]  You  that  truft  to  your  own  righteoufnefs,  arro- 
gate to  yourfelves  the  honour  of  the  greateft  thing  that 
ever  God  hinifelf  did ;  not  only  as  if  you  were  fufficient 
to  perform  divine  works,  and  to  accompli {li  forae  of  the 
great  works  of  God  ;  but  fuch  is  your  pride  and  vanity, 
that  you  are  not  content  without  taking  upon  you  to  do 
the  grcatcj]  work  tWat  ever  God  himfelf  wrought,  even 
the  work  of  redemption.  To  work  out  redemption  is 
a  greater  thing  than  to  create  a  world.  Confider  what  a 
figure  you  would  make,  if  you  fhould  attempt  to  deck 
yourfelf  with  majefty,  pretend  to  fpeak  the  word  of  power, 
and  call  an  univerfe  out  of  nothing ;  yet  in  pretending-  to 
work  out  redemption,  you  attempt  a  greater  thing.— You 
take  upon  you  to  do  the  moft  difficult  part  of  this  work, 
viz.  to  purchafe  redemption.  Chriil;  could  accomplilh 
other  parts  of  this  work  without  cofl:,  or  difficulty :  but 
this  part  cofl  him  his  life,  as  well  as  innumerable  pains 
and  labours,  very  great  ignominy  and  contempt.  If  all 
the  angels  in  heaven  had  been  iufficient  for  this  work, 
would  God  have  fent  his  own  Son,  the  Creator  of  angels, 

into  the  world,  to  have  done  and  fulfered  fuch  things  ? 

What  felf-righteous  perfons  take  to  themfelves,  is  the 
fame  work  that  Chiift  was  engaged  in  when  he  was  in  his 
agony  and  bloody  fweat,  and  when  he  died  on  the  crofs. 
Their  felf-righteoufnefs  does,  in  efFea,  charge  ChrilPs 
offering  up  himfelf  in  thefe  fufferings,  as  the  greateft  in- 
ftance  of  foljy  that  ever  men  or  angels  faw,  inftead  of 
bemg  the  molt  glorious  difplay  of  the  divine  wi/iom  and 
grace.  Yea,  felf-righteoufnefs  makes  all  that  Chiift  did 
and  fuftercd  through  the  whole  courfe  of  his  life,  with 
all  that  God  did  in  the  difpcnfations  of  his  providence 
irom  the  beginning,  nothing,  but  a  fcene  of  the  moft 
wild,  extreme,  and  tranfcendent  folly. —Is  it  any  wonder, 
^hen,  thr.t  a  felf-righteous  fpivit  is  fo  reprefcntcd  in  fcrip- 

7.  z  2  ture, 


35(5        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

ture,  and  fpoken  of,  as  that  which  is  moft  fatal  to  the 
fouls  of  men  ?  Or  that  Chrifl:  was  fo  provoked  with  the 
Pharifees  and  others,  who  trufted  in  themfelves  that  they 
were  righteous,  and  were  proud  of  their  goodnefs,  and 
thought  that  their  own  performances  v/ere  a  valuable  price 
of  God's  favour  and  love  ? 

Let  perfons  hence  be  warned  againft  a  felf-righteous 
fpirit.  You  that  are  feeking  falvation,  and  taking  pains 
in  religion,  take  heed  that  you  do  not  truft  in  what  yon 
do  ;  that  you  do  not  harbour  any  thoughts,  that  God 
ought  to  accept  of  what  you  do,  fo  as  to  be  inclined  by  it 
in  fome  meafure  to  forgive  you,  and  have  mercy  on  you  ; 
or  that  he  does  not  a£l  juftly,  if  he  refufe  to  regard  your 
prayers  and  pains.'  Such  complaining  of  God,  and  quar- 
relling with  him,  for  hot  taking  rnore  notice  of  your 
righteoufnefs,  plainly  fliows  that  you  are  guilty  of  all 
that  arrogance  that  has  been  fpoken  of,  thinking  yourfelf 
fufficient  to  offer  the  price  of  your  ov/n  falvation. 

(3.)  What  has  been  faid  on  this  fubje6l  affords  matter 
of  reproof  to  thofe  who  carelefsly  negledl  the  falvation  of 
Chrift:  fuch  as  live  a  fenfual  life,  neglecting  the  buhnefs, 
of  religion,  and  the  falvation  of  their  own  fouls,  having 
their  minds  taken  up  about  the  gains,  the  vanities,  and  plea- 
fures  of  the  world.  Let  me  here  apply  myfelf  to  you  in 
fome  expoftulatory  interrogations. 

[1.]  Shall  fo  many  prophets,  kings,  and  righteous 
men,  have  their  minds  taken  up  with  the  profpe6t,  that 
the  purchafe  of  Salvation  was  to  be  wrought  out  in  ages 
long  after  their  death  ;  and  will  you  neglect  it  when  ac- 
tually accomplilhed  ?  You  have  heard  what  great  account 
the  church  in  all  ages  made  of  the  future  redemption  of 
Chrift  ;  howjoyfully  they  expe6led  and  fpoke  of  it.  How 
mucli  did  Ifaiah,  Daniel,  and  other  prophets,  fpeak  con- 
cerning this  redemption  !  How  did  David  employ  his 
voice  and  harp  in  celebrating  it,  and  the  glorious  difplay 
of  divine  grace  therein  exhibited  !  How  did  Abraham 
and  the  other  patriarchs  rejoice  in  the  profpe6l  of  ChriiVs 
day,  and  the  redemption  which'  he  was  to  purchafe  ! 
And  even  the  faints  before  the  flood  were  elated  in  the 

expcc- 


IMPROVEMENT    OF   PERIOD    II.  357 

cxpedlation  of  this  glorious  event,  though  it  was  then  fo 
long  future,  fo  faintly  and  obfcurely  revealed  to  them. 
Now  thefe  things  are  declared  to  you  as  actually  fulfilled. 
The  church  has  feen  accoinplidied  all  thofe  great  things 
which  they  fo  joyfully  prophelied  of.  And  yet,  when 
thefe  things  are  fet  before  you  as  already  acconiplilhed, 
how  light  do  you  make  of  them  !  How  unconcerned  are 
you  about  them,  following  other  things,  not  fo  much 
as  feeling  any  int^reft  in  them  !  Indeed  your  fm  is  ex- 
tremely aggravated  in  the  fight  of  God.  God  has  put  you 
under  a  more  glorious  difpenfation  ;  has  given  you  a  more 
clear  revelation  of  Chrift  and  his  falvation  ;  and  yet  you 
negledl  all  thefe  advantages,  and  go  on  in  a  carelefs  courfe 
of  life,  as  though  nothing  had  been  done,  no  fuch  difco- 
vcry  had  been  made  you. 

[2.]  Have  the  angels  been  fo  engaged  about  this  fal- 
vation ever  fince  the  fall  of  man,  though  they  are  not 
immediately  concerned  in  it,  and  will  you  who  need  it, 
and  have  it  ottered  to  you,  be  fo  carelefs  about  it  ?  You 
liave  heard  how  the  angels  at  firlt  were  fubjecSled  to  Chrill 
as  mediator,  and  how  they  have  all  along  been  miniftering 
fpirits  to  him  in  this  affair.  And  when  Chrift  came,  how 
engaged  were  their  minds !  They  came  to  Zacharias,  to 
inform  him  of  the  coming  of  Chrift's  forerunner  ;  to  the 
Virgin  Mary,  to  inform  her  of  the  approaching  birth  of 
Chrift;  to  Jofeph,  to  warn  him  of  the  danger  which 
threa:encd  the  new-born  Saviour,  and  to  point  out  the 
means  of  fafety  :  and  at  the  birth  of  Chrift,  tlie  whole 
multitude  of  the  heavenly  hofts  fang  praifes  upon  the  oc- 
cafjon,  faying,  '  Glory  to  God  in  the  higheil,  and  on 
'  earth,  peace  and  good  will  towards  men.'  Afterwards, 
horn  time  to  time,  they  miniftered  to  Chrift  when  on 
earth  ;  they  did  fo  at  the  time  of  his  temptation,  at  the 
time  of  his  agony  in  the  garden,  at  his  refurre6lion,  and 
at  his  afcenfion.  All  thefe  things  fhow,  that  they  were 
greatly  engaged  in  this  affair  ;  and  the  fcripture  in^'orms 
us,  that  they  pry  into  thefe  things:  [i  Pet.  i.  12.]  '  Which 
*  things  the  angels  deftre  to  look  into.'  And  how  are  they 
jcprefcnted  in  the  Revelation,  ns  being  employed  in  hea- 


358         HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

vcn  in  finging  praifes  to  him  that  fitteth  on  the  throne, 
and  to  the  Lamb!— -Now,  fhall  thefe  take  fo  much  no- 
tice of  his  redemption,  and  of  the  purchafer,  who  need 
ft  not  for  themfelves,  and  have  no  immediate  intereft  in 
it ;  and  will  you,  who  are  in  fuch  extreme  necefiity,  negledl 
and  take  no  notice  of  it  ? 

[3.]  Did  Chrifl  labour  fo  hard  and  fuffer  fo  much,  to 
procure  this  falvation,  and  is  it  not  worth  the  while  for 
you  to  be  at  fome  labour  in  fceking  it  ?  Did  our  falvation 
lie  with  fuch  weight  on  the  mind  of  Chrift,  as  to  induce 
him  to  become  man,  and  to  fufFer  even  death  itfelf,  in 
order  to  procure  it  for  us,  and  is  it  not  worth  the  while  for 
you,  who  need  this  falvation,  and  muft  perifli  eternally 
without  it,  to  take  earneft  pains  to  obtain  an  intereft  in  it 
after  it  is  procured,  and  all  things  are  ready  ? 

[4.]  Shall  the  great  God  be  fo  concerned  about  this 
falvation,  as  fo  often  to  overturn  the  world  to  make  way 
for  it :  and  Vv'hen  all  was  done,  is  it  not  worth  your  feek- 
ing  after  ?  What  greatj  what  wonderful  things  has  the  Lord 
of  heaven  and  earth  done  from  one  age  to  another,  caft- 
ing  down  and  fetting  up  kings,  raiiing  up  a  great  number 
of  prophets,  fepciating  a  diftincl  nation  from  the  reft  of 
the  world,  overturning  one  kingdom  and  another,  and 
often  the  ftate  of  the  world  ;  and  fo  has  continued  bringing 
about  one  change  and  revolution  after  another,  for  forty 
centuries  in  fuccefTion,  to  make  way  for  the  procuring  of 
this  falvation  !  And  when  he  has  done  all,  is  it  not 
worthy  of  your  being  concerned  about  it,  but  that  ft 
{liould  be  thrown  by,  and  made  nothing  of,  in  comparl- 
Ibn  of  worldly  gain,  youthful  diverfions,  and  other  fuch 
trifling  things?— O  !  that  you  who  live  negligent  of  this 
falvation,  would  confider  what  you  do  !  '  What  you  have 
heard  from  this  fubje6^,  may  fhow  you  what  reafon  there 
is  in  that  exclamation  of  the  Apoftle,  [Heb.  ii.  3.]  '  How 
-<  fli'^1  we  efcape  if  we  negle6l  fo  great  falvation  ?'  and  in 
(that,  [A6ls  xiii.  41.]  'Behold,  ye  defpifers,  and  wonder 
*  and  perifti :  for  I  work  a  work-in  your  days,  a  work 
'  which  you  fiiall  in  no  wife  believe,  though  a  man  de- 
''  clare  it  unto  you/     God  looks  on  fuch  as  you  as  great 

enemies 


IMPROVEMENT    OF   PERIOD   II.  359 

enemies  of  the  crofs  of  Chrift,  and  adverfaries  and  def- 
pifers  of  all  the  glory  of  this  great  work.  And  if  God 
has  made  fuch  account  of  the  glory  of  falvation  as  to  de- 
ftroy  many  nations,  and  fo  often  overturn  all  nations,  ro 
prepare  the  way  for  the  glory  of  his  Son  in  this  affair  ; 
how  little  account  will  he  make  of  the  lives  ami  fouls  of 
ten  thoufand  fuch  oppofers  and  defpifers  as  you  that  con- 
tinue impenitent,  in  competition  with  his  glory !  Why 
furely  you  (hall  be  dafhed  in  pieces  as  a  potter's  veffel, 
and  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the  ftreets.  God  may, 
through  wonderful  patience,  bear  with  heardened  carelefs 
finners  for  a  while  ;  but  he  will  not  always  bear  with  fuch- 
defpifers  of  his  dear  Son,  and  his  great  falvaric^fl,  the  gJory 
of  which  he  has  had  fo  much  at  heart,  but  will  utterly  con- 
fume  them  without  remedy  or  mercy. 

2.  I  conclude,  fecondly,  with  a  ufe  of  encouragement 
to  burdened  fouls,  to  put  their  truft  in  Chrift  for  falva- 
tion. To  all  fuch  as  are  not  carelefs  and  negligent,  but 
fenfible  in  fome  meafure  of  their  neceffity  of  an  intereft  iiv 
Chrift,  and  afraid  of  the  wrath  to  come  ;  to  fuch,  what  has 
been  faid  on  this  fubjed  holds  forth  great  matter  of  encou- 
ragement, to  venture  their  fouls  on  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift* ; 
and  as  motives  proper  to  excite  youfo  to  do,  let  me  lead  yo\t 
to  confider  two  things  in  particular. 

(i.)  The  completenefs  of  the  purchafe  which  has  been 
made ;  as  you  have  heard,  this  work  of  purchafing  fal- 
vation was  wholly  finilhed  during  the  time  of  Chrift's 
humiliation.  When  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  and  was 
exalted  from  that  abafement  to  which  he  fubmitted  for 
our  falvation,  the  purchafe  of  eternal  life  was  completely 
made,  fo  that  there  was  no  need  of  any  thing  more  to 
be  done  in  order  to  it.  But  now  the  fervants  were  fent 
forth  with  this  meflage,   [Matt.  xxii.  iv.]  '  Behold  I  have 

*  prepared  my  dinner :  my  oxen  and  my  fattlings  are  kil- 

*  led,  and  all  things  are  ready,  come  unto  the  marriage.' 
Therefore  all  things  being  ready,  are  your  fms  many  and 
great?  Here  is  enough  done  by  Chrift  to  procure  their 
pardon  ;  there  is  no  need  of  any  righteoufnefs  of  yours 
to  obtain  your  juftification  :    no,   you  may  come  freely, 

without 


S6o        HISTORY  *0F    REDEMPTION, 

without  money  and  without  price :  fince  therefore  ther^ 
is  fuch  a  free  and  gracious  invitation  given  you,  come  ; 
come  naked  as  you  are  ;  come  as  a  poor  condemned  cri- 
minal ;  come  and  cafl:  yourfelf  down  at  Chrift's  feet,  as 
one  juftly  condemned,  and  utterly  helplefs  in  yourfelf. 
Here  is  a  complete  falvation  wrought  out  by  Chrift,  and 
through  him  otFered  to  you  ;  come,  therefore,  accept  of 
it,  and  be  faved. 

(2.)  For  Ch'rift  to  reje£l  one  that  thus  com.es  to  him, 
would  be  to  fruftrate  all  thofe  great  things  which  you 
have  heard  that  God  brought  to  pafs  from  the  fall  of 
man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrift.  It  would  alfo  fruftrate 
all  that  Chrift  did  and  fufFered  while  on  earth ;  yea, 
it  would  fruftrate  the  incarnation  of  Chrift  itfelf,  for  all 
thefe  things  were  for  that  end,  that  thofe  might  be  faved 
who  Ihould  come  to  Chrift.  Therefore  you  may  be  fure 
Chrift  will  not  be  backward  in  faving  thofe  who  come  to 
him,  and  truft  in  him;  for  he  has  no  defire  to  fruftrate 
himfelf  in  his  own  work  ;  neither  will  God  the  Father 
refufe  you ;  for  he  has  no  defire  to  fruftrate  himfelf  in 
all  that  he  did  for  fo  many  hundred  years,  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  falvation  of  fmners  by  Chrift.  Come, 
therefore,  hearken  to  the  fweet  and  earneft  call  of  Chrift. 
[Matt.  xi.  28—30.]  '  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour, 
'  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  reft;  take  my 

*  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me;  and  ye  fhall  find 
'  reft  unto  your  fouls :    for  my  yoke  is  eafy,  and  my  bur- 

*  den  is  light.' 


PERIOD. 


[     36i     H 


PERIOD     III. 


I 


N  difcourfing  on  this  fubjecl:,  we  have  alreatly  fliovvn 
how  the  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  through  the 
two  firfl  of  the  three  periods  into  which  we  divided  the 
whole  fpace  of  time  from  the  fall  to  the  end  of  the  world  ; 
and  we  are  now  come  to  the  third  and  lafl:  period,  be- 
ginning with  Chrift's  refurreition,  and  reaching  to  the 
end  of  the  world  ;  and  are  now  to  fhow  how  this  work  was 
alfo  carried  on  through  this  period,  from  the  following 
propolition— - 

That  the  space  of  time  from  the  resurrec- 
tion OF  Christ  to  the  end  of  the  world  is  all 

ENGAGED   IN   BRINGING    ABOUT    THE    GREAT  EFFECT, 
OR   SUCCESS,    OF    ChRIST's   PURCHASE. 

Not  but  that  there  were  great  efFe<51s  and  glorious  fuccefs 
of  Chrifl:  s  purchafe  of  redemption  before,  even  from  the 
beginning.  But  all  that  fuccefs  was  only  preparatory,  and 
by  way  of  anticipation  ;  as  fome  few  fruits  arc  gathered 
before  the  harvcft.  There  was  no  more  fuccefs  before 
Chrifl:  came  than  God  faw  needful  to  prepare  the  way  for 
his  coming.  The  proper  time  of  the  fuccefs  or  effe6l  of 
Chrift's  purchafe  of  redemption  is  after  the  purchafe  has 
been  made  ;  as  the  proper  time  for  the  world  to  enjoy 
the  light  of  the  fun  is  the  day  time,  after  the  fun  is  rifcn, 
though  we  may  have  fome  fmall  matter  of  it  refleiled  from 
the  moon  and  planets  before.  And  even  the  fuccefs  of 
Chrift's  redemption,  while  he  himfelf  was  on  earth,  was 
very  fmall,  in  comparifon  of  what  it  was  after  the  con- 
clufion  of  his  humiliation. 

But  Chrift  having  tiniftied  that  greateft  and  moft  diffi- 
cult of  all  works,  tlie  work  of  the  purchafe  of  redemption, 
now  is  the  time  for  him  to  obtain  the  joy  that  was  fet  before 
him.  Having  made  his  foul  an  oftering  for  fin,  now  is 
the  time  for  him  to  fee  his  feed,  and  to  have  '  a  portion 

q  A  '  divided 


-^Gi        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  divided  to  him  with  the  great,  and  to  divide  the   fpoil 

*  with  the  ftrong.'     [Ifa.  liii.] 

One  defign  of  Chrift's  humiliation  was,  to  lay  a  foun- 
dation for  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  kingdom  ;  and  now  is 
come  the  time  to  effe6l  it ;  as  Chrift  a  little  hefore  his  cru- 
cifixion faid,  [John  xii.  31.]  '  Now  is  the  judgment  of 

*  this  world  ;  now  fhall  the  prince  of  this  world  be  caft 

*  out.'  Another  defign  was,  to  gather  together  in  one  all 
things  in  Chrifl.   [John  xii.  32.]     'And   I,  if  I  be   lifted 

*  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me  ;'  which  is  agreeable  to 
Jacob's  prophecy  of  Chrift,  that  '  when  Sh'tloh  fhould 
'  come,  to  him  Ihould  the  gathering  of  the  people  be.' 
[Gen.xlix.  10.]— A  third  defign  is  the  falvation  of  the 
eledt.  Now  when  his  fuiFerings  are  finiflied,  and  his  hu- 
miliation is  perfedled,  the  time  is  come  for  that  alfo.  [Heb, 
V.  8,  9.]  '  Though  he  were  a  Son,  yet  learned  he  obe- 
'  dience  by  the  things  which  he  fufFered  ;  and  being  made 

*  perfe(9:,  he  became  the  author  of  eternal  falvation  unto 
'  all  them  that  obey  him.'-— Another  defign  was,  to  ac- 
complifh  by  thefe  things  great  glory  to  the  perfons  of  the 
Trinity.  Now  alfo  is  come  the  time  for  that  ;  [John 
xvii.  I.]  '  Father,  the  hour  is  come  ;  glorify  thy  Son,  that 
'  thy  Son  alfo  may  glorify  thee.' — Laftly,  another  defign 
w^as  the  glory  of  the  faints.  [John  xvii.  2  ]  'As  thou 
'  haft  given  him  power  over  all  flefli,  that  he  fhould  give 

*  eternal  life  to  as  many  as  thou  haft  given  him.' — 
And  all  the  difpenfations  of  God's  providence  hencefor- 
ward, even  to  the  final  confummation  of  all  things,  are  to 
give  Chrift  his  reward,  and  to  fulfil  the  joy  that  was  fee 
before  him. 


INTRODUCTION. 

BEFORE  I  enter  on  the  confideration  of  the  parti- 
cular things  accompliftied  in  this  period,  I  would  briefly 
obferve,  how  the  times  of  this  period  are  reprefented  in 
fcripture, 

I.  The 


INTRODUCTION   TO    PERIOD   III.  363 

1.  The  times  of  this  period,  for  the  moft  part,  are 
thofe  which  in  the  Old  Teftamenc  are  called  the  latter 
days.  We  often,  in  the  prophets  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
read  of  luch  and  fuch  things  that  fhould  come  to  pafs 
in  the  latter  days,  and  fometimes  in  the  laji  days.  Now 
thcfe  expreflions  of  the  prophets  arc  moft  commonly  to 
be  uudcrftood  of  the  times  of  this  period.  They  are  called 
the  latter  days,  and  the  laJl  days  ;  becaufe  this  is  the  laft 
period  of  the  feries  of  God's  providences  on  earth,  the 
laft  period  of  that  great  work  of  Providence,  the  work 
of  redemption,  which  is,  as  it  were,  the  fum  of  God's 
works  of  providence,  the  time  wherein  the  church  is 
under  tlic  laft  difpenfation  that  ever  will  be  given  on 
earth,  (a) 

2.  The  whole  time  of  this  period  is  fometimes  in  fcrip- 
ture  called  '  the  f«^  of  the  world.'  [i  Cor.  x.  11.]  '  Now 
'  all  thefe  things  happened  unto  them  for  enfamples ;  and 
'  they  are  written  for  our  admonition,  upon  whom  tlie 
'  ends  of  the  world  are  come.'  And  the  apoftle,  [Heb, 
ix.  26.]  in  this  expreflion  of  the  end  of  the  world,  means 
the  whole  of  the  gofpel  day,  from  the  birth  of  Chrift 
10  tlie  Hniftiing  of  the  day  of  judgment:  '  But  now  once 
*'  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath  he  appeared,  to  put  away 
'  fm  by  the  facritice  of  himfelf.'  This  fpace  of  time 
may  well  be  called  '  the  end  of  the  world  ;'  for  this 
whole  time  is  taken  up  in  bringing  things  to  that  great 
ifluc  that  God  had  been  preparing  the  way  for,  in  all 
the  great  difpenfations  of  providence,  from  the  firft  fall 
of  man  to  this  time.  Before,  things  were  in  a  kind  of 
preparatory  ftate,  but  now  they  arc  in  a  hnifhing  ftate  : 
it  is  the  winding  up  of  things  which  is  all  this  while 
accompliftiing.     Heaven  and  earth  began  to  Jhake  in  order 

3  A  2  '  t(j 


(a)     The-    LATTER    DAYS.]        Rabbi  Z).   /wW/j/ [ill  Ifa.  31.]  y^if^M 

Ezra  [in  Hofca  iii.]  and  ManaJJc,  [lib.  iii.  Dc  Refur.]  all  under- 
ftand  by  this  phrafc,  '  the  days  of  the  Mefliah  ;'  and  Dr.  Owen 
fuppoics  them  fo  called,  not  fo  much  in  reference  to  the  gofpel, 
as  the  lall  difpenfation,  or  the  end  of  the  world,  as  fome  have 
fuppofcd,  but  "  the  lall  days  of  the  Judaical  church  and  llatc." 

[Owen  in  Heb.  i.  2,] 


564        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

to  a  dlfTolution,  according  to  the  propliecy  of  Haggai,  be- 
fore Chrifl:  came,  that  fo  only  '  thofe  things  that  cannot 

*  be  ihaken  may  remain  ;'  [Heb.  xii.  2.]  /.  e.  that  thofe 
things  that  are  to  come  to  an  end,  may  come  to  an  end, 
and  that  only  thofe  tilings  may  remain,  which  are  to  re- 
main eternally. 

So,  in  the  firfl:,„piace,  the  carnal  ordinances  of  the  Jewifli 
worfliip  came  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the  ertablifh- 
ment  of  that  fpiritual  worfliip,  the  wordiip  of  the  heart, 
which  is  to  endure  to  eternity.  [John  iv.  21,  23.]     '  Jefus 

*  faith  unto  the  woman.  Believe  me,  the  hour  cometh, 
'  when  ye  fhall  neither  in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at  Je- 
'  rufalera,  worfliip  the    Father. — But  the   hour  cometli, 

*  and  now  is,  when  the  true  w^orfliippers  fhall  worlhip  the 

*  Father  in  fpirit  and  truth  ;  for  the  Father  feeketh  fuch 
'  to  worlhip  him.'  This  is  one  inftance  of  the  temporary 
world's  coming  to  an  end,  and  the  eternal  world's  begin- 
ning. Another  inftance  that  the  outward  temple,  and  the 
city  of  Jerufalem,  came  to  an  end,  to  give  place  to  the 
fetting  up  of  the  fpiritual  temple  and  the  city,  which  arc 
to  endure  for  ever,  which  is  ^Ifo  another  inftance  of  re- 
moving thofe  things  which  are  ready  to  vanifli  away,  that 
thofe  things  which  cannot  be  Ihaken  may  remain.  Againj, 
the  old  heathen  empire  comes  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for 
the  e'verlariing  empire  of  Chriil.  Upon  the  fall  of  anti- 
chrift,  an  end  will  be  put  to  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on 
earth,  to  eftabliih  Chrift's  eternal  kingdom  ;  [Dan.  vii. 
27.]  '   And  the  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the  greatnefs 

*  of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven,  fliall  be  given 

*  to  the  faints  of  the  Moll  Higli,  whofe  kingdom  is  an 

*  everlafting   kingdom,  and  all  dominions  fhall   ferve  and 

*  obey  him  :'  which  is  another  inftance  of  the  ending  ot 
the  temporary  world,  and  tlic  beginning  of  the  eternal  one. 
And  then,  laflly,  the  very  frame  of  this  corruptible  world 
fhall  come  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the  church  to  dwell 
in  another  dwelling  place,  which -fhall  laft  to  eternity; 
which  is  the  concluding  inftance. 

Becaufe  the  world  is  thus  coming  to  an  end  by  various 
fleps  and  degrees,  the  apolile  perhaps  ufes  this  expreffion, 

that 


INTRODUCTION    TO    PERIOD    III.        365 

that  not  the  end,  but  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come  on  us ; 
as  though  the  world  has  feveral  endings  one  after  another. 
— The  gofpel  difpenfation  is  the  laft  flate  of  things  in  the 
world  ;  and  this  ftate  is  a  tiniihing  ftate  :  it  is  all  fpetit 
in  finifliing  things^ff"  which  before  had  been  preparing, 
or  abolifliing  ~tTiings  which  before  had  flood.  It  is  all 
fpent  as  it  were  in  fumming  things  up,  and  bringing  them 
to  their  ilTues,  and  their  proper  fulfilment.  Now  all  the 
old  rypes  are  fulfilled,  and  the  predictions  of  all  the  pro- 
phets from  the  beginning  of  the  world  Ihall  be  accom- 
plithed  in  this  period. 

3.  That  flate  of  things  which  is  attained  in  the  events 
of  this  period  Is  called  '  a  rievj  heaven  and  a  neu)  earth  ;' 
[Ifa.  Ixv.  17,  18.]  '  For  behold,  I  create  a  new  heaven  and 
'  a  7ieio  earth  :  and  the  former  fliall  not  be  remembered, 

♦  nor  come  into  mind.     But  be  you  glad  and  rejoice  for 

*  ever  In  that  which  I  create  ;  for  behold,  I  create  Jerufa- 

♦  1cm  a  rejoicing,  and  her  people  a  joy.  And  [ch.  Ixvi. 
j>2.]  '  For  as  the  new  heavens  and  new  earth  which  I 
^  make,  fhall  remain  before  me  ;  fo  Ihall  your  feed  and 

*  your  nam.e  remain.'  [See  alfo  ch.  li.  16.]  As  the  for- 
mer ftate  of  things,  or  the  old  world,  by  one  ftep  after 
another,  is  through  this  period  coming  to  an  end  ;  fo  the 
pew  ftate  of  things,  or  the  new  world,  which  is  a  fplri- 
tual  world7  is  beginning  and  fetting  up.  In  conlec^uencc 
of  each  of  thefe  finifhings  of  the  old  ftate  of  things,  there 
is  the  beginning  of  a  ijew  and  eternal  one.  So  that 
which  accompanied  the  deftru6lIon  of  the  literal  Jeru- 
falem,  was  an  eftablHhing  of  the  fphitual.  So  with  re- 
fpe<fl  to  the  deftru6tion  of  the  old  heathen  empire,  and 
all  the  other  endings  of  the  old  ftate  of  things,  till  at 
length  the  very  outward  frame  of  the  old  world  itfclf  ftiall 
come  to  an  end  \  and  the  church  ftiall  dwell  in  a  world 
new  to  it,  or  to  a  great  part  of  it,  even  heaven,  which 
will  be  a  new  habitation  :  and  then  ftiall  the  utmoft  be 
accompliftied  that  is  meant  of  the  new  heavens  and  new 
earth.     [See  Rev.  xxi.  i.] 

The  end  of  God's  creating  the  world  was  to  prepare  a 
k:ngdo;"a  for  his    Son,   (for  he  is   appointed  heir   of  the 

world) 


366        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

world,)  and  that  he  might  have  the  poffeflion  of  it,  and  a 
kingdom  in  it,  which  fhould  remain  to  all  eternity.  So 
far  as  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  fet  up  in  the  world,  fo  far 
is  the  world  hrought  to  _its_end,  and  the  eternal  ftate  of 
things  fet  up.  So  far  are  all  the  great  changes  and  revolu- 
tions of  the  world  brought  to  their  ultimate  iffue.  So  far 
are  the  waters  of  the  long  channel  of  divine  Providence, 
which  has  fo  many  branches,  and  fo  many  windings  and 
turnings,  emptied  out  into  their  proper  ocean,  wliich  they 
have  been  feeking  from  the  beginning  and  head  of  their 
courfe,  and  fo  are  come  to  their  reft.  So  far  as  Chrift's 
kingdom  is  eftablifhed  in  the  woild,  fo  far  are  things  wound 
up  and  fettled  in  their  everlafting  ftate,  and  a  period  put 
to  the  courfe  of  things  in  this  changeable  world  ;  fo  far  arc 
the  fix  ft  heavens  and  the  firft  earth  come  to  an  end,  and 
the  new  lieavens  and  the  new  earth  eftablilhed  in  their 
room.     Ihis  leads  me  to  oblcrve, 

4.  That  the  ftate  of  things  which  is  attained  by  the 
events  of  this  period,  is  what  is  fo  often  called  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,  or  the  kingdom  oi  God.  We  very  often  read  in 
the  New  Tcftp.ment  oF  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  John  the 
Baptift  preached  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  at  hand, 
and  fo  did  Chrift,  and  his  difciples  after  him  ;  referring 
to  fomething  that  the  Jews  in  thofc  days  expecSted,  by  that 
name.  They  feem  to  have  taken  their  expectation  and 
the  name  chiefly  from  that  prophecy  of  Daniel  in  Nebu- 
chadnezzar's dream.  [Dan.  ii.  44.]  '  And  in  the  days  of 
«  thefe  kings  fhall  the  God  of  heaven  fet  up  a  kingdom.' 
[See  alfo  chap.  vii.  13,  14.]  Now  this  kingdom  of  licavai 
is  that  evangelical  ftate  of  things  in  his  church,  and  in'the 
world,  wherein  confifts  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption 
in  this  period.  There  had  been  often  great  kingdoms  fet 
up  before.— But  Chrift  came  to  fet  up  the  laft  kingdom, 
which  is  not  an  earthly  kingdom,  but  an  heavenly,  and 
fo  is  properly  called  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  [John  xviii. 
36.]  '  My  kingdom  is  not  of  the  world.'  [Luke  xxii.  20.] 
"  My  Father  hath  appointed  mc  a  kingdom.'— Under  this 
head  I  would  obferve  fevcral  things  particularly,  for  the 

clearer 


INTRODUCTION    TO   PERIOD    III.       367 

clearer  underftanding  of  what  the  fcriptures  fay  concern- 
ing this  period. 

(i.)  The  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  chief- 
ly accoinplilhed  by  four  fucceffivc  great  events,  each  of 
which  is  in  fcripture" called  Chrifl's  coming  in  his  kingdom. 
The  tirll:  is  Chrift's  appearing  in  thofe  wonderful  difpen- 
fations  of  providence  in  "the  apoflles  days,  in  ere6ling  his 
kingdom,  and  deftroying  his  enemies,  which  ended  in  the 
deftruiSlion  of  Jerufaleni.  This  is  called  Chrift's  coming 
in  his  kingdom.   [Matt.  xvi.  28.]   '  Verily  I  fay  unto  you, 

*  there  be  fome  flanding  here,  which   Ihall  not  tafle  of 

*  deatli  till  they  fee  the   Sori  of  man  coming  in  his  king- 

*  dom.'  The  Jecond^  was  accomplilhed  in  Conftantinc's 
time,  in  the  deftru6lion  of  the  heathen  Roman  empire. 
This  alfo  is  reprefented  as  Chrift's  coming,  and  is  com- 
pared to  the  laft  judgment.  [Rev.  vi.  13—17.]  The  third 
is  to  be  accompliflied  at  the  deftrudlion  of  antichrift : 
which  is  reprefented  as  Chrift's  coming  in  his  kingdom 
in  the  prophecy  of  Daniel,  and  in  other  places,  as  I  mav 
poffibly  fliow  hereafter.  The  fourth  and  laft  is  his  com- 
ing to  judgment  in  the  end  of  time,  which  is  the  event 
principally  fignitied  in  fcripture  by  Chrift's  coming  in  his 
kingdom. 

(2.)  I  would  obfcrve,  that  each  of  the  three  former 
of  thefe  is  a  lively  image  of  the  laft,  viz.  Chrift's  coming 
to  the  final  judgment  ;  as  the  principal  difprnfations  of 
providence  before  Chrift's  firft  coming  were  types  of  that 
event. — As  Chrift's  laft  coming  to  judgment  is  accom- 
panied with  a  rcfurre6Vion  of  the  dead,  fo  is  each  of  the 
three  foregoing  with  a  fpiritual  refarre(£lion.  The  com- 
ing of  Chrift  to  the  deftrudtioa  of  Jerufalem  was  pre- 
ceded by  a  glorious  fpiritual  refurredlion  of  fouls  in  the 
calling  ot  the  Gentiles,  and  bringing  multitudes  to  hin\ 
by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel.  Chrift's  coming  in  Con- 
ftantinc's  time  was  accompanied  with  a  fpiritual  refurrec- 
tion  of  the  greater  part  of  the  known  world,  in  a  refto- 
ration  of  it  to  a  vifible  church  ftatc,  from  a  ftate  of  hea- 
thenifm.  So  Chrift's  coming  at  the  deftru<5lion  of  anti- 
chrift will  be  attended  with  a  fpiritual  refurrectlon  of  the 

church 


368        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

ch\ircli  after  it  had  been  long  as  it  were  dead,  in  the  times 
of  antichrift.  This  is  called  the  firft  refurredlion  in  the 
Revelation,  [chap.  xx.  5.] 

Again,  as  Chrift  in  the  laft  judgment  will  manifeft  him- 
felf  in  the  glory  of  his  Father,  fo  in  each  of  the  three 
foregoing  events  Chrift  glorioufly  manifcfts  himfelf  in 
judgments  upon  his  enemies,  and  in  grace  and  favour  to 
his  church.  As  the  laft  coming  of  Chrift  will  be  attended 
with  a  literal  gathering  together  of  the  eleiSl  from  the  four 
winds  of  heaven,  fo  were  each  of  the  preceding  attended 
with  a  fpiritual  in-gathering.  As  this  gathering  together 
of  the  ele6l  will  be  eft'evSted  by  the  angels  with  a  great 
found  of  a  trumpet,  [Matt.  xxiv.  31.]  fo  are  each  of  the 
preceding  by  the  trumpet  of  the  gofpel,  founded  by  the 
minifters  of  Chrift  :  as  there  ftiall  precede  the  laft  appear- 
ance of  Chrift,  a  time  of  great  degeneracy  and  wickednefs, 
fo  this  has  been,  or  will  be,  the  cafe  with  each  of  the 
other  appearances.  Before  each  of  them  is  a  time  of  great 
oppofition  to  the  church  :  before  the  firft,  by  the  Jews  ; 
before  the  fecond,  by  the  heathen  ;  before  the  third,  by 
antichrift  ;  and  before  the  laft,  by  Gog  and  Magog,  as 
defcribed  in  the  Revelation. 

By  each  of  thefe  comings  of  Chrift,  God  works  a 
glorious  deliverance  for  his  church  ;  each  of  them  is  ac- 
companied with,  a  glorious  advancement  of  the  ftate  of 
it.— The  firft,  which  ended  in  the  deftru6fion  of  Jeru- 
falem,  was  attended  with  bringing  the  church  into  the 
glorious  ftatc  of  the  gofpel  ;  the  fecond,  in  Conftantine's 
time,  with  an  advancement  of  the  church  into  a  ftate  of 
liberty  from  perfecution,  and  the  countenance  of  civil 
authority,  and  triumph  over  their  heathen  perfecutors. 
The  third,  which  ftiall  be  at  the  downfall  of  antichrift, 
will  be  accompanied  with  an  advancement  of  the  church 
into  that  ftate  of  the  glorious  prevalence  of  truth,  liberty, 
peace,  and  joy,  that  we  fo  oiten  read  ot  in  the  propheti- 
cal parts  of  fcripture  ;  tlie  laft  will  be  attended  with  the 
advancement  of  the  church  to  confummate  glory  in  hea- 
ven.—Each  of  thefe  is  accompanied  with  a  teniblc  de- 
ftrudtion  of  the  wicked,  and  the  enemies  of  the  church  • 

the 


INTRODUCTION  TO   PERIOD   III.       369 

the  firft,  with  die  terrible  deftrudlion  of  the  perfecuting 
Jews;  the  fccond,  with  dreadful  judgments  on  the  hea- 
then; the  third,  with  the  awful  dcftrudlion  of  antichrilt, 
the  moft  cruel  and  bitter  enemy  that  ever  the  church  had  ; 
the  fourth,  with  divine  wrath  and  vengeance  on  all  the 
ungodly.— Fartlier,  there  is  in  each  of  thefe  appearances 
of  Chrift  an  ending  of  the  old  heavens  and  the  old  earth, 
and  a  beginning  of  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth ;  or 
an  end  of  a  temporal  flate  of  things,  and  a  beginning  of 
an  eternal  one. 

(3.)  I  would  obferve,  that  each  of  thofe  four  great 
difpenfations  which  are  reprefented  as  Chrift's  coming  in 
his  kingdom,  are  but  fo  many  fteps  and  degrees  of  the 
accomplilhment  of  one  event.  They  are  not  the  fetting 
up  of  fo  many  diftin(5l  kingdoms  of  Chrift ;  they  are  all 
of  them  only  feveral  degrees  of  the  accomplifhment  of 
one  event.   [Dan.  vii,    13,  14.]     '  And  I  faw  in  the  night 

*  vifions,    and  behold,   one  like  the  Son  of  man,    came 

*  with  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  Ancient  of 
'  days,    and   they  brought  him   near  before   him.      And 

*  there   was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory,  and  a  king- 

*  dom,    that    all   people,    nations,    and  languages,  Ihould 

*  ferve  him:    his    dominion   is  an  everlafting   dominion, 

*  and  his  kingdom  that  which  fhall  not  be  deftroyed.' 
This  is  what  the  Jews  expe6ted,  and  called   *  the  coming 

*  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;'  and  what  John  the  Bap- 
tift  and  Chrift  had  refpedl  to,  when  they  faid,  '  The  king- 
'  dom  of  lieaven  is  at  hand.' 

(4.)  I  would  obferve,  that  as  there  are  feveral  fteps  ol 
the  accomplilhment  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  fo  in  each 
one  of  them  the  event  is  accompliihed  in  a  farther  de- 
gree than  in  the  foregoing.  That  in  the  time  of  Con- 
ftantine  was  a  greater  and  farther  acoompli/hment  of  the 
kingdom  of  Chrift,  than  that  which  ended  in  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Jerufalem  ;  that  which  ftiall  be  at  the  fall  of  an- 
tichrift,  will  be  a  ftill  farther  accomplifliment  of  the  fame 
thing,  and  fo  on  with  regard  to  each  ;  fo  that  the  king- 
dom of  Chrift  is  gradually  prevailing  and  growing  by 
q  B  thefe 


370        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

thefe  feveral  great  fteps  of  its  fulfilment,  from  the  time  of 
Chrift's  refurre61:ion  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

And  becaufe  thefe  four  great  events  are  but  images  one 
of  another,  and  the  three  former  but  types  of  the  laft, 
and  fince  they  are  all  only  feveral  fteps  of  the  accomplilh- 
ment  of  the  fame  thing  ;  hence  we  find  them  all  from 
time  to  time  prophefied  of  under  one,  as  they  are  in  the 
prophecies  of  Daniel,  and  likewife  in  the  xxivth.  chapter 
of  Matthew,  where  fome  things  feem  more  applicable  to 
one  of  them,  and  others  to  another. 

(5.)  And  laftly.  It  m.ay  be  obferved,  that  the  provi- 
dences of  God  between  thefe  four  great  events  are  to 
make  way  for  the  kingdom  and  glory  of  Chrift  in  the 
great  event  following.  Thofe  difpenfations  of  providence 
which  were  towards  the  church  of  God  and  the  world, 
before  the  del"i:ru6lion  of  the  heathen  empire  in  the  time 
of  Conftantine,  feem  all  to  have  been  to  make  way  for 
the  glory  of  Chrift,  and  the  happinefs  of  the  church  in 
that  event.  And  fo  the  gracious  providences  of  God 
fmce  that,  till  the  deftruclion  of  antichrift,  and  the 
beginning  of  the  gloriovis  times  of  the  church  which 
follow,  feem  all  to  be  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  greater 
glory  of  Chrift  and  his  church  in  that  event  ;  and  the 
providences  of  God  which  fhall  be  after  that  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  feem  to  be  for  the  greater  rhanifeftation 
of  Chrift's  glory  at  the  end  of  the  world,  and  in  the  con- 
iummation  of  all  things. 

I  thought  it  needful  to  obferve  thofe  things  in  general 
concerning  this  laft  period  of  the  feries  of  God's  provi- 
dence,    before     I    take    notice    of    the    particular   provi- 
dences by  which  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried   on 
through    this   period  ;    and   before   I  proceed,   I  will  alio 
briefly   anfwer   to  an  inquiry,  viz.  Why  the  fetting  up  of 
I  Chrift's  kingdom   after  his  humiliation  ihould  be  fo  gra- 
I   dual,    by   fo   many  fteps,    and    fo  long  in  accomplilhing, 
\  fmce  God  could  eafily  have  hniflted  it  at  once  ?    Though 
'  it  would  be  prelumption   in   us  tq  pretend  to  declare   all 
the  ends  of  God  in  this,  yet  doubtlefs  much  of  the  wif- 

doin 


INTRODUCTION  TO    PERIOD    III.       371 

dom  of  God  may  be  feen  in  it  by  us;  and  particularly  in 
thcfc  two  things : 

[i.]  In  this  refpecl  God's  wifdom  is  more  villble:  if 
it  had  been  done  at  once,  or  in  a  very  ihort  time,  there 
would  not  have  been  fuch  opportunities  to  perceive  and 
obferve  it,  as  when  the  work  is  gradually  accomplilhed, 
and  one  effe6l  of  his  wifdom  is  held  forth  to  obfervation 
after  another.  It  is  wifely  determined  of  God,  to  ac- 
compli fh  this  great  defign  by  a  wonderful  and  long  feries 
of  events,  that  the  glory  of  his  wifdom  may  be  difplayed 
in  the  whole  feries ;  and  that  the  glory  of  his  perfe6lions 
may  be  feen,  appearing,  as  it  were,  by  parts,  and  in  par- 
ticular fucceffive  manifeftations  ;  for  if  all  that  glory  which 
appears  in  all  thefe  events  had  been  manifefled  at  once,  it 
would  have  been  too  much  for  us,  and  more  than  we  at 
once  could  take  notice  of;  it  would  have  dazzled  our  eyes 
and  overpowered  our  fight. 

[2.]  Satan  is  more  glorioufly  triumphed  over.  God 
could  eafily,  by  an  a£t  of  almighty  power,  at  once  have 
cruflied  Satan.  But  by  giving  him  time  to  ufe  his  ut- 
moft  fublilty  to  hinder  the  fuccefs  of  what  Chrift  had 
done  and  fullered,  he  is  not  defeated  merely  by  furprife, 
but  has  large  opportunity  to  ufe  his  utnioft  power  and 
fubtilty  again  and  again,  to  ftrengthen  his  own  interefl:  all 
that  he  can  by  the  work  of  many  ages.  Thus  God  de- 
llroys  and  confounds  him,  and  fets  up  Chrift's  kingdom 
time  after  time,  in  fpite  of  all  his  fubtle  machinations  and 
great  works,  and  by  every  flap  advances  it  ftill  higher 
and  higher,  till  at  length  it  is  fully  fet  up,  and  Satan  per- 
fe(*Hy  and  eternally  vanquished. 

I  now  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  particular  events, 
whereby,  from  the  end  of  Chrifl's  humiliation  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  has  been  or 
ihall  be  accompliflied. 


3  B  2  §  I.  Those 


372        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

'■{  a 
§  I.    Those  things  whereby  Christ  was  capaci- 
tated FOR  THIS  WORK. 

I  WOULD  take  notice,  firft,  of  thofe  things  by 
which  Chrift  was  put  into  a  capacity  for  accomplifhing 
the  end  of  his  purchafe.  And  they  are  two  things,  viz. 
his  refurreftion  and  his  ajcenjion.  As  we  obferved  before, 
the  incarnation  of  Chrift  was  neceffary  in  order  to  Chrift's 
being  in  a  capacity  for  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  fo  the 
refurredtion  and  afcenfion  of  Chrift  were  requifite  in  order 
to  his  accompli (hing  the  fuccefs  of  his  purchafe. 

I.  His  refurre^ion.  It  was  neceflary  in  order  to  Chrift's 
obtaining  the  end  and  efFe6l  of  his  purchafe  of  redemp- 
tion, that  he  lliould  rife  from  the  dead.  For  God  the 
Father  had  committed  the  whole  affair  of  redemption,  not 
only  the  purchafmg  of  it,  but  the  beftowment  of  the  blef- 
fings  purchafed,  to  his  Son,  that  he  Ihould  not  only  pur- 
chafe it  as  pricft,  but  a6lually  accomplifti  it  as  king  of 
Zion;  and  in  his  complex  perfon  as  God-man.  For  the 
Father  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  fallen  man  in  a 
way  of  mercy  but  by  a  mediator.  But  in  order  that  Chrift 
might  carry  on  the  work  of  redemption,  and  accomplilh 
thus  the  fuccefs  of  his  own  purchafe,  it  was  necef- 
fary  that  he  fhould  be  alive,  and  fo  that  he  {liould  rife 
from  the  dead.  Therefore  Chrift,  after  he  had  finiihed 
this   purchafe  by  death,    (b)  and  by  continuing  for  a  time 

under 

(b)  Chrifl  Jin'i/hed  his  purchafe  by  his  death. ~\  Our  author  pro- 
perly omits  the  defcent  of  Chrift  to  hell,  and  his  fappofed  work 
there.  But  it  maybe  faid,  Do  not  both  the  Old  and  New  Tefta- 
ment,  [Pfalm  xvi.  lo. — Afts  ii.  31.J  (as  well  as  the  apoftle's 
creed)  intimate  that  Chrift  defcended  into  hell,  in  thofe  well- 
known  v/ords,  *  Thou  wilt  not  leave  my  foul  in  hell?' — We  an- 
fwer,  that  this  is  explained  (as  is  the  manner  of  the  Hcb.  poetr}') 
in  the  following  words,  '  Neither  wilt  thou  fuff"er  thine  Holy  one 
'  to  fee  corruption  ;'  fo  the  fame  words  are  ufed,  [Pfalm  Ixxxix. 
48.]  *  What  man  is  he  that  liveth,  and  (hall  not  fee  death  ?  Shall 
'  he  deliver  his  foul  from,  the  hand  of  the  grave?' — In  the  Heb. 
[^INty]  the  word  commonly  rendered  Hell,  but  which,  indeed, 
properly  fignifies  *  the  invifible  Hate,*  (as  our  word  ^f// originally 

did) 


CHRIST  CAPACITATED  FOR  HIS  WORK.    373 

under  the  power  of  death,  rifcs  from  the  dead,  to  fulfill 
the  end  of  his  purchafc,  and  himfelf  to  bring  about  that 
for  which  he  died :  for  this  matter  God  the  Father  had 
committed  unto  him,  that  he  might,  as  Lord  of  all,  ma- 
nage all   to  his  own   purpofes :    [Rom.  xiv.  9.]     *  For  to 

•  this  end  Chrift  both  died,  and  role,  and  revived,  that  he 
'  might  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  of  the  living.* 

Lidced,  both  Chrift's  refurreftion  and  his  afcenfion, 
were  part  of  the  fuccefs  of  what  he  did  and  fuffered  in  his 
Immiliation.  For  though  Chrift  did  not  properly  pur- 
chafe  redemption  for  himfclf,  yet  he  purchafed  eternal 
life  and  glory  for  himfelf,  (as  man  and  Mediator)  and 
ihefe  were  given  him  as  a  reward  of  what  he  did  and 
fuffered.  [Phil.  ii.  8,  9.]  '  He  humbled  himfelf,  and  be-- 
'  came  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  crofs : 
'  wherefore  hath  God  highly  exalted  him.'  And  it  may 
be  looked  upon  as  part  of  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe, 
if  it  be  confidered,  that  he  did  not  rife  as  a  private  perfon, 
but  as  the  head  of  his  eledl  church  ;  fo  that  they  did,  as  it 
were,  all  rife  with  him.  Chrift  was  juftified  in  his  refurr 
redlion,  i.  e.  God  acquitted  and  difcharged  him  hereby, 
as  having  done  and  fuffered  enough  for  the  fnis  of  all  the 
eleft.  [Rom.  iv.  2c.]  '  Who  was  delivered  for  our  of- 
fences, and  railed  again  for  our  juftification.'  And 
God  put  him  in  poffeffiori  of  eternal  life,  as  the  head  of 
the  chuich,  as  a  fure  earnefi  that  they  Ihould  follow.  Fcr 
when  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  it  was  the  beginning  of 
eternal  life  in  him.  His  life  before  his  death  was  a  mor- 
tal life,  a  temporal  life  ;  but  his  life  after  his  refurreftion 
was  an  eternal  life.  [Rom.  vi.  9.]  '  Knowing  that  Chrift 
'  being  raifed  from  the  dead,  dietii  no  more  ;  death  hatri 
'  no  more  dominion  over  him.'  [Rev.  i.  18.]  '  I  am  he  that 

*  liveth   and  was  dead  ;    and  behold  I   am  alive  for  ever- 

more, 

did)  and  the  other  word  [il'Dj]  fignifies  not  always  the  immortal 
foul,  but  the  animal  frame  in  general,  either  living  or  dead.  As 
to  the  creed,  Bp.  Pearfon  has  (hewn,  that  this  article  was  lirft  in- 
fertcd  to  cxprefs  the  burial  of  Chrift,  although  afterwards,  when 
that  claufe  was  added,  this  was  explained  of  his  foul.  [See  Bp. 
Pearfon  on  the  Creed,  and  Faiilke  on  ihc  Rhemifli  Teftament, 
chap,  vii.]  [G.  E.J 


374        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION.  " 

*  more,  Amen.'— But  he  was  put  in  poffeffion  of  this  eter- 
nal life,  as  the  head  of  the  body  ;  and  took  pofleflion  of 
it,  not  only  to  enjoy  it  himfelf,  but  beftow  the  fame  on 
nil  who  believe  in  him  ;  fo  that  the  whole  church,  as  it 
were,  rifcs  in  him. 

The  refurredion  of  Chrift  is  the  moft  joyful  event  that 
ever  came  to  pafs ;  becaufe  hereby  Chrift  refted  from 
the  great  and  difficult  work  of  purchafmg  redemption, 
and  received  God's  tcftimony,  that  it  was  finiflied.  (c) 
The  death  of  Chrift  was  full  of  pain  and  forrow ;  by 
liis  refurreilion  that  forrow  is  turned  into  joy.  The  head 
of  the  church,  in  that  great  event,  enters  on  the  poffef- 
fion of  eternal  life  ;  and  the  whole  church  is,  as  it  were, 

*  begotten  again  to  a  lively  hope.'  [i  Pet.  i.  3.]  Weep- 
ing had  continued  for  a  night,  but  now  joy  cometh  in 
the  morning,  the  moft  joyful  morning  that  ever  was. 
This  is  the  day  of  the  reigning  of  the  head  of  the 
church,  and  all  the  church  reigns  with  him.  This  is 
fpoken  of  as  a  day  which  was  wortliy  to  be  commemo- 
rated with  the  greateft  joy  of  all  days.  [Pfal.  cxviii.  24.] 
'   This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made,  we  will  re- 

'  joicc 

(c)  Chrtjl^s  Refurredlon  joyful.]  "  Was  ever  joy  more  ra- 
tional? Was  ever  triumph  more  glorious?  The  triumphant  en- 
tries  of  conquerors,  tiie  fongs  that  rend  the  air  in  praife  of  their 
vlftories,  the  pyramids  on  which  their  exploits  are  tranfmitted  to 
pollerity,  when  they  have  fubdued  an  enemy,  routed  an  army, 
humbled  the  pride,  and  reprefled  the  rage  of  a  foe  ;  ought  not 
all  thefe  to  yield  to  the  joys  that  are  occalioned  by  the  event 
which  we  cclebiate  to-day?  Ought  not  all  thefe  to  yield  to  the 
viftoi-Ies  of  our  incomparable  Lord,  and  to  his  people's  exprefTion 
of  praife  ?  One  part  of  the  gratitude  which  is  due  to  beneficial 
events,  is  to  know  their  value,  and  to  be  affefted  with  the  bene- 
fits they  procure.  Let  us  celebrate  the  praife  of  the  author  of 
our  redemption,  my  brethren  ;  let  us  call  heaven  and  earth  to 
witnefs  our  gratitude.  Let  an  increafe  of  zeal  accompany  this 
part  of  our  engagements.  Let  a  double  portion  of  fire  from 
heaven  kindle  our  facrifices,  and,  with  a  heart  penetrated  with 
the  liveliell  gratitude  and  with  the  moft  ardent  love,  let  each 
Chriftian  exclaim,    *  Blefled  be  the  God  and  Father  of  my  Lord 

*  Jefus  Chrift,  wlio,  according  to  his  abundant  mercy,  hath  be- 

*  gotten*  me  again  to  a  lively  hope  by  the  reftirreBlon  of  Jefus 

*  Chrift  from  the  dead."     [Saurin's  Sermons,  vol.  ii.  Ser.  8.j 


CHRIST  CAPACITATED  FOR  HIS  WORK.    37^ 

'  joice  and  be  glad  in  it.'  And,  therefore,  this  is  ap- 
pointed for  the  day  of  the  church's  fpiritual  rejoicing  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  to  be  weekly  fan6tiiied,  as  their  day 
of  holy  reft  and  joy,  that  the  church  therein  may  reft  and 
rejoice  with  her  head.  And  as  the  iiid.  chap,  of  Genefis  is 
the  moft  forrowful  chapter  in  the  Bible,  fo  thofe  chapters 
in  the  evangelifts  that  give  an  account  of  the  refurre6lion 
of  Chrift,  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  moft  joyful  ;  for 
they  give  an  account  of  the  tinifhing  of  the  purchafe  of 
redemption,  and  the  beginning  of  the  glory  of  the  head 
of  the  church,  as  a  feal  and  earneft  of  the  eternal  glory  of 
all  the  members. 

It  is  farther  to  be  obferved,  that  the  day  of  the  gofpel 
jnoft  properly  begins  with  the  refurrecSlion  of  Chrift. — 
Till  Chrift  arofe  from  the  dead,  the  Old  Teftament  difpen- 
fation  remained :  but  now  it  ceafes,  all  being  fulfilled  that 
was  fhadowed  forth  in  the  typical  ordinances  of  that  dif- 
penfation:  fo  that  here  moft  properly  is  the  end  of  the 
Old  Teftament  night,  and  Chrift  riling  from  the  grave 
with  joy  and  glory,  as  the  joyful  bridegroom  of  the  church, 
as  a  glorious  conqueror  to  fubduc  their  enemies  under 
their  feet,  was  like  the  fun  rifing  as  it  were  from  under 
the  earth,  after  a  long  night  of  darknefs,  and  cominp-  forth 
as  a  bridegroom,  prepared  as  a  ftrong  man  to  run  his  race, 
appearing  in  joyful  light  to  enlighten  the  world.  [Pfal. 
xix.]  Now  that  glorious  difpenfation  begins,  which  the 
prophets  fo  long  foretold,  now  the  gofpel  fun  is  rifen  in 
glory,  '  and  with  healing  in  his  wings,  that  thofe  who  fear 
'  God's  name  may  go  forth,  and  grow  up  as  calves  of 
'  the  ftalL'     [Mai.  iv.  2.] 

2.  Chrift's  afccnjion  into  heaven.  In  tliis  I  would 
include  his  fitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  For  Chrift's 
afccnlion,  and  fitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  can  fcarce- 
ly  be  looked  upon  as  two  diftin6l  things:  for  his  afcenfiou 
was  nothing  clfe  but  afcending  to  God's  right  hand  ;  it  was 
his  coming  to  fit  down  at  his  Father's  right  hand  in  glory. 
This  was  another  thing  whereby  Chrift  was  put  into  a 
capacity  for  ilic  accompliihing  the  efted  of  his  purchafe  ; 
■  as  ^ne  'that    comes    to,  deliver   a  people  as   their   king, 


376  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

in  order  to  it,  and  that  he  might  be  under  the  beft  capa- 
city for  it,  is  tirft  enthroned.  We  are  told,  that  Chrift 
was  exalted  for  this  end,  that  he  might  accomplifh  the 
fuccefs  of  his  redemption.  [Acls  v.  31,]  '  Him  hath  God 
'  exalted  with  his  right  hand,  for  to  give  repentance  unto 
*  Ifrael,  and  the  remifTion  of  fins.* 

Chrifl's  afcenfion  into  heaven  was,  as  it  were,  his  folemn 
coronation,  whereby  the  Father  did  fet  him  upon  die 
throne,  and  inveft  him  with  the  glory  of  his  kingdom 
which  he  had  purchafed  for  himfelf,  that  he  might  there- 
by obtain  the  fuccefs  of  his  redemption  in  conquering  all 
his  enemies:  [Pfal.  ex.  i.]  'Sit  thou  at  my  right  hand, 
'  until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footftooL'  Chrift  enter- 
ed into  heaven,  in  order  to  obtain  the  fuccefs  of  his  pur- 
chafe,  as  the  high  prieft  of  old,  after  he  had  offered  facri- 
fice,  entered  into  the  holy  of  holies  with  the  blood  of  the 
facrifice,  in  order  to  obtain  the  fuccefs  of  the  facrifice 
which  he  had  offered,  [See  Heb.  ix  12.]  He  entered  into 
heaven,  there  to  make  interceffion  for  his  people,  to 
plead  the  facrifice  which  he  had  made  in  order  to  the  fuc- 
cefs of  it.  [Heb.  vii.  ■25.]— And  as  he  afcended  into 
heaven,  God  the  Father  did  in  a  vifible  manner  fet  him 
on  the  throne  as  king  of  the  univerfe.  He  then  put  the 
angels  all  under  him,  and  fubjedled  heaven  and  earth  un- 
der him,  that  he  might  govern  them  for  the  good  of  the 
people  for  whom  he  had  died.  [Eph  i.  20— 22.]— And 
as  Chrift:  rofe  from  the  dead,  fo  he  afcended  into  heaven 
as  the  head  oi^  the  body  and  forerunner  of  all  the  church  ; 
and  fo  they,  as  It  were,  afcend  with  him,  as  well  as  rife 
with  him ;  fo  that  we  are  both  raifed  up  together,  and 
made  to  fit  together  in  heavenly  places  in  Chrift.  [Eph. 
ii.  6  ] 

The  day  of  Chrift's  afcenfion  into  heaven  was  doubtlcfs 
a  joytul  glorious  day  in  heaven  ;  and  as  heaven  received 
Chrift,  God-man,  as  its  king,  fo  doubtlefs  it  received  a 
great  acceftlon  of  glory  and  happinefs,  far  beyond  what  it 
had  before:  fo  that  the  times  in  both  parts  of  the  church, 
both  that  part  wliich  is  in  heaven,  and  alfo  that  which 
is  on  earth,  are  become  more  glorious  fince  Chrift's  humi- 
liation 


IN   THE    APOSTOLIC   AGE.  377 

liation  than  before.— So  much  for  thofe  things  whereby 
Chrift  was  put  into  the  beft  capacity  for  obtaining  the  fuc- 
cefs  of  redemption. 

§  II.     Dispensations    of  Providence    by    which 

THIS    SUCCESS    WAS    ESTABLISHED. 

:I  WOULD  confider  thofe  difpenfations  of  Providence, 
by  which  the  means  of  this  fuccefs  were  eftabliflied  after 
Chrifl's  refurreclion.     And  thefe  were, 

^^h.  The  abolifhing  of  the  Jewifli  difpenfation.  This  in- 
deed was  gradually  done,  but  it  began  from  the  time  of 
Chrift's  refurrecVion,  in  which  the  abolition  of  it  is  found- 
ed. This  was  the  tirft  thing  done  towards  bringing  the 
former  ftate  of  the  world  to  an  end.  This  is  to  be  looked 
upon  as  the  great  means  of  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemp-- 
tion.  For  the  Jew'ijli  difpenfation  was  not  fitted  for  more 
than  that  one  nation  ;  nor  would  it  have  been  in  any  wife 
pradticable  by  them  in  all  parts  of  the  world  to  go  to  je- 
rufalem  three  times  a  year,  as  was  prefcribed  in  that  con- 
ftitution.  When  therefore  God  had  a  defign  of  enlareinc 
his  church,  as  he  did  after  Chrift's  refurredlion,  it  was 
neceflary  that  this  difpenfation  ihould  be  aboliftied.  If  it 
had  been  continued,  it  would  have  been  a  great  hindrance 
to  the  enlargement  of  the  church.  And  beftdes,  their  ce- 
remonial law,  by  reafon  of  its  burdenfomenefs,  and  the 
great  peculiarity  of  fome  of  its  rites,  was  as  it  were  a  wall 
of  partition,  and  was  the  ground  of  enmity  between  the 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  would  have  kept  the  Gentiles  from 
complying  with  the  true  religion.  This  wall  therefore 
was  broken  down  to  make  way  for  the  more  extenfive  fuc- 
cefs of  the  gofpel.   [Eph.  ii.  14,  15.] 

'2.  The  next  thing  in  order  of  time  feems  to  be  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Chriftian  fabbath.  For  though  this  was 
gradually  eftabliihed  in  the  Chriftian  church,  yet  thofe 
things  by  which  the  revelation  of  God's  mind  and  will  was 
made,  began  on  the  day  of  Chrift's  refurredlion,  by  his 
appearing  then  to  his  difciplcs,  [John  xx.  19.]  and  was 
iitterwards  confirmed  by  his  appearing  from  time  to  time 

3  C  on 


378        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

on  that  day  rather  than  any  other,  [John  xx.  26.]  and  by 
his  fending  down  the  Holy  Spirit  fo  remarkably  on  that 
day,  [A6^s  ii.  i.]  and  afterwards  in  directing  that  public 
afiemblies  and  the  public  worlhip  of  Chriflians  fliould  be 
on  that  day,  which  may  be  concluded  from  A6ts  xx.  7. 
I  Cor.  xvi.  1,2.  and  Rev.  i.  10.  And  fo  the  day  of  the 
week  on  which  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  that  joyful  day, 
is  appointed  to  be  the  day  of  the  church's  holy  rejoicing  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  and  the  day  of  their  fbatcd  public 
worfliip.  (d)  And  this  is  a  very  great  and  principal  means 
of  the  faccefs  which  the  gofpel  has  had  in  the  world. 

3.  The  next  tiling  was  Chrift's  appointment  of  the  gof- 
pel miniflry,  and  commiffioning  and  fending  forth  his 
apoftles  to  teach  and  baptize  all  nations,  [Matt,  xxviii. 
19,  20.]  '  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptiz- 
'  ing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
'  of  the  Floly  Ghoft  ;  teaching  them  to  obferve  all  things 
*  whatfoever  I  have  commanded  you  :  and  lo,  I  am  with 
'  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.' — There 
were  three  things  done  by  this  one  inftruclion  and  com- 
miffion  of  Chrift  to  his  apcfiles,  viz. 

(i.)  The  appointment  of  the  ofhce  of  the  gofpel  mi- 
niftry.  For  this  commiffion  which  Chrift  gives  to  his 
apoftles,  in  the  moft  effential  parts  of  it,  belongs  to  all 
minifters ;  and  the  apoftles,  by  virtue  of  it,  were  minif- 
ters  or  elders  of  the  univerfal  church. 

(2.)  Here  is  fomething  peculiar  in  this  commiffion  of 
the  apoftles,  viz.  to  go  torth  from  one  nation  to  another, 

preaching 

(d)  Chri/l  chafiged  the  sa'BB  at  H.I  "  If  the  day  on  vi^hich  he 
rofe  from  the  dead,  be  the  day  which  is  called  the  Lord's  ;  if  on 
the  fird  day  of  the  week  the  primitive  Chrillians,  even  in  the 
apoftolic  times,  did  afiemble  for  religious  purpofes ;  did  hear  the 
word;  did  celebiatc  the  fupper ;  did  lay  by  them  in  ftore,  a.^ 
God  had  profpered  them  ;  fhall  we  not  conclude,  that  it  is  the 
will  of  God  that  nov,-  the  feventh  day  -{hall  give  place  unto  the 
firft  ?  Hcieby  is  intimated  to  you,  Chrilijaiis,  that  ye  are  not  firft 
to  work,  and  then  to  rell,  as  under  the  ancient  covenant  of  works, 
but  that,  in  the  order  of  the  new  covenant,  your  privilege  precedes 
your  duty,  and  your  labour  follows  after  your  reft."  [M'Ev/en's 
Eflays,  vol.  i.  p.  295.] 


IN   THE   APOSTOLIC   AGE.  379 

preaching  the  gofpel  in  all  the  world.  The  apoftles  had 
fomething  above  what  belonged  to  their  ordinary  chara6lcr 
as  miniftcrs  ;  they  had  an  extraordinary  power  in  teaching 
and  ruling,  which  extended  to  all  the  churches  in  the  end 
of  the  world.  And  (o  the  apoftles  were,  in  fubordination 
to  Chrift,  made  foundations  of  the  Chriftian  church.  [Sec 
l^ph.  ii.  20.  and  Rev.  xxi.  14.] 

(3.)  Here  is  an  appointment  of  Chriftian  baptifm.  Tiiis 
ordinance  indeed  had  a  beginning  before  :  John  the  BaptiO: 
and  Chrift  both  baptized.  But  now  efpecially  by  this  in- 
flitution  it  is  eftabliilicd  as  an  ordinance  to  be  upheld  in  the 
Chriftian  church  to  the  end  of  the  world. — The  ordinance 
of  the  Lord's  fupper  was  eftabliflied  juft  before  Chrift's 
A:rucifixion. 

4.  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved,  is  the  enduing  tlie 
apoftles,  and  others,  with  the  extraordinary  and  miiacu 
lous  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ;  fuch  as  the  gift  of  tongues, 
the  gift  of  healing,  of  prophecy,  &:c.  The  Spirit  of  God 
was  poured  out  in  great  abundance  in  this  refpedl  :  fo  that 
not  only  minifters,  but  a  great  number  of  Chriftians  through 
the  world,  were  endued  with  them,  both  old  and  young  ; 
not  only  officers,  and  more  honourable  perfons,  but  the 
meaner  fort  of  people,  fervants  and  handmaids,  agreeable 
to,  Joel's  prophecy,  [ch.  ii.  28,  29.]  of  which  the  apoftle 
Peter  takes  notice,  that  it  is  accompliflicd  in  this  difpen- 
fation.  [A6ts  ii.  1 1.]  ^ 

How  wonderful  a  difpenfation  was  this  !  Under  the  Old 
Teftament,  but  lew  had  fuch  honours  put  upon  them  by 
God.  Mofes  wiihed  that  all  the  Lord's  people  were  pro- 
})hets,  [Numb.  xi.  27—29.]  whereas  Joftiua  thought  ii 
much  that  Eldad  and  Medad  prophefied :  but  now  we  find 
the  wiih  of  Mofcs  fulfilled.  And  this  continued  in  a  very 
confiderable  degree  to  the  end  of  the  apoftolic  age,  or  the 
firft  hundred  years  after  the  birth  of  Chrift,  which  is  there- 
fore called  the  age  of  miracles. 

This  was  a  great  means  of  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  in 
that  age,  and  of  eftabliftiing  the  Chriftian  cliurch  in  all 
parts  of  the  world  ;  and  not  only  in   that  age,  but  in  all 

3  C  2  age: 


3«o        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

ages  to  the  end  of  the  world:  (e)  for  Chrlflianity  being 
by  this  means  eflablUhed  through  fo  great  a  part  of  the 
known  world  by  miracles,  it  was  after  that  more  eafily 
continued  by  tradition  ;  and  then,  by  means  of  thefe  extra- 
ordinary gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  the  apoftles,  and  others, 
were  enabled  to  write  the  New  Teftament,  to  be  an  in-  - 
fallible  rule  of  faith  and  manners  to  the  church  to  the  end 
of  the  world.  Furthermore,  thefe  miracles  ftand  recorded 
in  thofe  writings  as  a  {landing  proof  and  evidence  of  the 
truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion  to  all  ages. 

c.  The  next  thing  T  would  obferve  is  the  revealing  thofe 
crlorious  do^lrines  of  the  gofpel  more  fully  and  plainly, 
which  had  under  the  Old  Teflament  been  obfcurely  re- 
vealed. The  do6lrine  of  Chrift's  fatisfaftion  and  righte- 
oufnefs,  his  afcenfion  and  glory,  and  the  way  of  falvation, 
under  the  Old  Teftanient,  were  in  a  great  meafure  hid 
under  the  vail  of  types  and  ihadows,  and  more  obfcure 
revelations,  as  Mofes  put  a  vail  on  his  face  to  hide  the 
Ihining  of  it :  but  now  the  vail  of  the  temple  is  rent  from 
llie  top  to  the  bottom  ;  and  Chrift,  the  antitype  of  Mofes, 
ihines  ;  the  fliining  of  his  face  is  without  a  v?.il  ;  [2  Cor. 
iii.  12,  13,  and  18.]  Now  thefe  glorious  myfteries  are 
plainly  revealed,  which  were  in  a  great  meafure  kept  fecret 

from 

(e)  Chr'ijl'innity  eJIaUiJIoedhy  MIRACLES.]  "  Imagine  thefe  ve- 
nerable men  addrcfiing  their  adverfaries  on  the  day  of  the  Chriftian 
pentccoft  in  this  langnage,  '  Ye  refufe  to  believe  us  on  ovn-  depo- 

*  litions  ;  five  hundred  of  us  ye  think  are  enthufialls  ;  .  .  .  .  orper- 
'  haps  ye  think  us  impoftors,  or  take  us  for  madmen But 

*  bring  out  your  fick  ;  prefent  your  demoniacs  ;  fetch  hither  your 

*  dead Let  all  nations  fend  us  fome  of  their  inhabitants  ; 

*  we  v,ill  reftore  hearing  to  the  deaf,  and  fight  to  the  blind  ;  we  „ 

*  will  make  the  lame  walk  ;  we  will  caft  out  devils,  and  raife  the  J 
'  dead.     We,  we  publicans,  we  illiterate  men,  we   tent-makers. 

*  we  fifhermen,  we  vrill  difcourfe  with  all  the  people  of  the  world 

*  in  their  own  languages.     We  will  explain   prophecies, 

*  develop  the  mod  fublime  myfteries,  teach  you  notions  of  God, 
'  precepts  for  the  conduft  of  life,  plans  ^of  morality  and  religion, 

*  more   cxtenfive,   more  fublime,    and   more  advantageous,   than 

*  thofe  of  your  prlefts  and  philofophers,  yea,  than  thofe  of  Mofes 

*  himftlf.    We  will  do  more  ftill ;  we  will  communicate  thofe  gifts 

*  to  you."   [Saurin's  Sermons,  vol.  ii.  Sei.  S.] 


IN   THE   APOSTOLIC   AGE.  381 

from  the  foundation  of  the  world.  [Eph.  iii.  3—5.  Rom. 
xvi.25.]     '  According   to  the  revelations  of  the  myftery 

*  which  was  kept  fecrct  fmce  the  world  began,  but  is  now 
'  made  manifell:.'  [Col.  i.  26.]  '  Even  the  myftery  which 
'  hath  been  hid  from  ages,  and  generations,  but  now  is 
'  made  manifefl:  to  his  faints.' 

Thus  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs,  after  it  is  rifcn  from 
under  the  earth,  begins  to  fhine  forth  clearly,  and  not 
only  by  a  dim  reflc6lion  as  it  did  before.  Chrill:  before 
his  death  revealed  many  things  more  clearly  than  ever 
they  had  been  difcovered  in  the  Old  Teftament ;  but  the 
great  myfteries  of  Chrift's  redemption,  reconciliation  by 
his  death,  and  juftitication  by  his  righteoufnefs,  were  not 
fo  plainly  revealed  before  Chrifl's  refurre6lion.  Chrift 
gave  this  reafon  for  it,  that  he  would  not  put  new  wine 
into  old  bottles  :  and  it  was  gradually  done  after  his  rc- 
furre6tion.  In  all  likelihood,  Chrift  much  more  clearly 
inftrudVed  them  jierfonally  after  his  refurre6lion,  and  be- 
fore his  afcenfion ;  as  we  read  that  he  continued  with  them 
forty  days,  fpeaking  of  the  things  pertaining  to  the  king- 
dom, [A(Sls  i.  3.]  and  that  '  he  opened  their  undcrftand- 
'  ing,  that  they  might  underftand  the  fcripturcs.'  [Luke 
xxiv.  45.]  But  the  clear  revelation  of  thefe  things  was 
principally  after  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  on  the  day 
of  Pentecoft,  agreeable  to  Chrift's  promife.  [John  xvi. 
12,  13.]   '  I  have  yet  many  things  to  lay  unto  you,  but  ye 

*  cannot  bear  them  now.     Howbeit,  when  the   Spirit  of 

*  truth  is  come,  he  fhall  guide  you  into  all  truth.'  This 
clear  revelation  of  the  myfteries  of  the  gofpcl,  as  they  are 
delivered,  we  have  chiefly  through  the  hands  of  the  apof- 
tle  Paul,  by  whofe  writings  a  child  may  come  to  know 
more  of  the  do6lrines  of  the  gofpel,  in  many  refpe6ls,  than 
the  grcateft  prophets  knew  under  the  darknefs  of  the  Old 
Teftament. — Thus  you  fee  how  the  ligiu  of  the  gofpel, 
which  began  to  dawn  immediately  after  the  fall,  and  gra- 
dually grew  and  increafed  through  all  the  ages  of  the  Old 
Teftament,  is  now  come  to  the  light  of  perfe6l  day,  and 
the  hrightncfs  of  the  fun  Ihining  forth  in  his  unvailed 
glory. 

6.  The 


382         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

6.  The  next  thing  that  I  would  obferve,  is  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  office  of  deacons  in  the  Chrifdan  church,  which 
we  have  an  account  of  in  the  vith  chap,  of  the  A6ls,  to 
take  care  for  the  outward  fupply  of  the  members  of  Chrill's 
church  ;  and  the  exercife  of  that  great  chriftian  virtue, 
charity,  (f) 

7.  The  calling,  qualifying,  and  fending  the  apoflle  Taul. 
This  was  begun  in  his  converfion  as  he  was  going  to  Da- 
mafcus,  and  was  one  of  the  greatelT:  means  of  the  fuccefs 
of  Chrift's  redemption  that  followed  ;  for  this  fuccefs  was 
more  by  the  labours,  preaching,  and  writings  of  this  apof- 
tle,  than  all  the  others  put  together.  For,  as  he  fays,  [  i 
Cor.  XV.  10.]  he  '  laboured  more  abundantly  than  they 
*  all ;'  fo  alfo  his  fuccefs  was  more  abundant.  As  he  was 
the  apoftle  of  the  Gentiles,  fo  it  was  principally  by  his 
miniftry  that  the  Gentiles  were  called,  and  the  gofpel 
fpread  throughout  the  world  ;  and  the  nations  of  Europe 
have  the  gofpel  among  them  chiefly  through  his  means  ; 
and  he  was  more  employed  by  the  Holy  Ghoft  in  revealing 

its 

(f)  Deacons  appointed.']  "  It  is  generally  allowed  by  inqui- 
rers into  thefe  fubjedts,  that  in  the  primitive  church  there  were 
deaconejfes,  i.  e.  pious  women,  whofe  particular  bufinefs  it  uas 
to  aflill  in  the  entertainment  and  care  of  the  itinerant  preachers  ; 
vifit  the  fick  and  imprifoned,  inilruft  female  catechumens,  and 
affill  at  their  baptifm  ;  then  more  particularly  neceflary  from  the 
peculiar  cuftoms  of  thofe  countries,  the  perfecuted  Itate  of  the 
church,  and  the  fpcedier  fpreading  of  the  gofpel.— Such  a  one 
it  is  reafonable  to  think  Phehe  was,  [mentioned  Rom.  xvi.  i.] 
who  is  exprefsly  called  a  deaconefs,  or  ftated  fervant,  as  Dr. 
Doddridge  renders  it.— They  were  ufually  'w'ldoivs,  and  to  pre- 
vent fcandal,  generally  in  years,  [i  Tim.  v.  9.  See  alfo  Span- 
hem.  Hift.  Chrift  Secul.  i.  p.  554.]  The  apoftolic  conftitutions 
(as  they  are  called)  mention  the  ordination  of  a  deaconefs,  and 
the  form  of  prayer  ufed  on  that  occafion  ;  [lib.  viii.  ch.  19,  20.  J 
Pliny  alfo,  in  his  celebrated  epiflle  [xcvii.]  to  Trajan,  is  thought 
to  refer  to  them,  when  fpcaking  of  two  female  Chrillians,  wlioni 
he  put  to  the  torture,  he  fays,  qua  m'in\jJra  dlcehnntur,  i.  e.  who 
were  called  deaconefTes. — But  as  the  primitive  Clirilh'ans  feem  to 
be  led  to  this  practice  from  the  pecuharity  of  their  circumttanccs, 
and  the  fcripture  is  entirely  fdent  as  to  any  appointment  to  this 
fuppofed  office,  or  any  rules  about  it,  it  is,  I  think,  very  jnftly 
laid  afide,  at  Icall  as  an  office."  [D.  Turner's  Social  Religion, 
p.  8>-,  86.] 


IN    THE   APOSTOLIC   AGE.  3S3 

Its  glorious  dodlrines   in   liis  writings,  for  the  ufe  of  the 
church  in  all  ages,  than  all  the  other  apoftlcs. 

8.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  is  the  inftltution  of 
ecclcfiaftical  councils,  for  deciding  controvcrfies,  and  ordcr- 
incr  the  affairs  of  the  church  of  Chrift,  of  which  we  have 
an  account  in  the  xvth  chap,  of  the  A61:s.   (g) 

9.  The  laft  thing  I  fliall  mention  under  this  head,  is 
the  committing  the  New  Tellament  to  writing.  This 
was  all  written  after  the  refurre6lion  of  Chrift  ;  and  all 
written,  either  by  the  apoftles,  or  by  the  evangelifts  Maik 
and  Luke,  who  were  companions  of  the  apoftles.  The 
gofpel  of  Mark  is  fuppofed  to  be  written  by  that  Mark 
whofe  mother  was  Mary,  in  whofe  houfe  they  were  pray- 
ing for  Peter,  when  he,  (brought  out  of  prifon  by  the 
angel,)  came  and  knocked  at  the  door;  [A61:s  xii,  12.} 
*  And  when  he  had  confidercd  the  thing,  he  came  to  the 

'  houfe 


(g)  The  origin  of  COUNCILS.]  Wlio  can  help  admiring  the 
primitive  inftitution  of  councils,  and  at  the  fame  time  deploring 
the  abufc  of  them  in  after  ages  ?  While  they  were  affemblies  of 
excellent  and  apoftolical  men,  who  met  to  confult  and  advife  with 
one  another  on  the  common  interells  of  Chriftianity,  we  venerate 
and  efteem  them  ;  but  when  they  degenerated  to  be  tools  of  ftatc, 
and  were  compofed  of  men  heated  by  a  fpirit  of  party,  and  v.-arped 
by  fecular  interefts,  who  fliowed  their  piety  only  in  afpiring  to 
feats  of  temporal  power,  and  their  zeal  in  excommunicating  and 
perfccuting  each  other ; — then  they  became  objects  only  of  pity 
and  contempt.  Yet  (fuch  is  the  courfe  of  human  affairs)  as  they 
funk  in  value,  they  rofc  in  authority,  and  when  they  grew  carnal 
and  vicious,  were  judged  infallible  and  divine  !  It  would  be  tedi- 
ous to  enumerate  the  multitude  of  councils  which  affembled  as 
fuoH  as  the  hand  of  perfecution  permitted  ;  and  to  point  out  their 
contradiiSlions  and  abfurdities  would  feem  a  fatire  on  the  Chriftian 
faith.  "  But  the  four  firll  general  councils  are  received  by  all^ 
Proteftants,  &c.  Received,  how  ?  Not  by  any  in  their  wits,  as 
the  rule  of  faith,  or  part  of  it.  They  have  in  them  fomc  things 
true,  fome  things  probable  only,  and  no  quellion,  fome  things 
falfe  ;  and  whether  they  be  true  or  fairc,(in  points  of  faith,  I  mean) 
fciipture  mull  determine.  Well,  this  Is  the  Chriftian'?,  the  Pro- 
tellant's  rule  of  faith  !  .  .  .  .  It  was  departing  from  this  rule,  and 
fetting  up  an  exorbitant  power  in  the  church,  and  the  pallors  of 
it,  ....  that  led  on  the  great  apoitafy,  and  helped  up  antlchrift: 
to  his  throne."     [Bennet's  Mem.  of  the  Reform,  p.  8.] 


S84        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  houfe  of  the  mother  of  John,  whofe  firname  was  Mark, 

*  where  many  were  gathered  together  praying.'  He  was 
the  companion  of  tlie  apoftles  Barnabas  and  Saul.  [A6ls 
XV.  3'7.]  '  And  Barnabas  determined  to  take  with  them 
'  John,  wliofe  firname  was  Mark.''  He  was  Barnabas's 
fifter's  fon,  and  feems  fometime  to  have  been  a  com- 
panion cf  the  apoflle  Paul.  [Col.  iv.  lo.]  '  Ariftarchus, 
'  my  fellow  prifoner,  faluteth  you,  and  Alnrcus,  fifter's  fon 

*  to  Barnabas  ;  touching  whom  ye  received  commandment: 

*  if  he  come  unto  you  leceive  him.'  The  apoftles  feem 
to  have  "made  great  account  of  him,  as  appears  by  thofc 
places,  and  alfo  by  A6ls  xii.  25.  '  And  Barnabas  and  Saul 
'  returned  from  Jerufalem,  and  took  with  them  John, 
'  whofe  firname  was  Mark;''  and  [A6ls  xii.  5.]  '  When 
'  they  were  at  Salamis,  they  preached  the  word  of  God  in 

*  the  fynagogues  of  the  Jews  ;  and  they  had  alfo  John  to 

*  their  minifter ;'  again   [Tim.  iv.  11.]   '   Only  Luke   is 

*  with  me  :  i^k&  Mark  and  bring  him  with  thee;  for  he  is 
<  profitable  to  me  for  the  miniftry. 

Luke,  who  wrote  the  gofpel  of  Luke  and  the  book  of 
A£ts,  was  a  companion  of  the  apoftle  Paul.  He  is  fpo- 
ken  of  as  being  with  him  in  the  laft-mentioned  place,  and 
fpeaks  of  himfclf  as  accompanying  him  in  his  travels  in 
the  hiftory  of  the  Acls  \  and  therefore  he  fpeaks  in  the  firft 
perfcn  plural,  PFe  went  to  fuch  and  fuch  a  place.  He 
was  greatly  beloved  by  the  apoftle  Paul :  he  is  that  be- 
loved phyfician  fpoken  of.  Col.  iv.  14.  The  apoftle  ranks 
Mark  and  Luke  among  his  fellow  labourers.  [Philemon, 
24.]  '  Marcus,  Ariftarchus,  Demas,  Lucas,  my '  fellow 
'  labourers.' 

The  reft  of  the  books  were  all  written  by  the  apoftles 
thcmfelves.  The  books  of  the  New  Teftament  are  either 
hiftorical,  do6Vrinal,  or  prophetical.  The  h'ljior'ical  books 
are  the  writings  of  the  four  evangelifts,  giving  us  the  hif- 
tory of  Chrift,  and  his  purchafe  of  redemption,  with  his 
refurrcfVion  and  afccnfion  :  and  the  Ads  of  the  Apoftles, 
giving  an  account  of  the  great  things  by  which  the  Chrif- 
tian  church  was  ftrft  eftabliflicd  and  propagated.  The 
dotlnnal  books  are   the   epiftles.     Thefe,    moft  of  them, 

we 


IN  THE  APOSTOLIC   AGE.      "     385 

we  have  from  the  great  apoftle  Paul.  And  we  have  one 
prophetical  book,  which  takes  place  after  the  end  of  the 
hiftory  of  the  whole  Bible,  and  gives  an  account  of  the 
great  events  by  which  the  work  of  redemption  was  to  be 
carried  on  to  the  end  of  the  world 

All  thefe  books  are  fuppofed  to  have  been  written  before 
the  deftrudlion  of  Jerufalem,  excepting  thofe  of  John,  who 
lived  the  longeft  of  all  the  apoftles,  and  wrote,  as  is  fup- 
pofed after  the  deftru6tion  of  Jerufalem.  And  to  this  be- 
loved difciple  it  was  that  Chrift  revealed  thofe  wonderful 
things  which  were  to  come  to  pafs  in  his  church  to  the  end 
of  time  ;  and  he  put  the  tinirtiing  hand  to  the  canon  of  the 
fcriptures,  and  fealed  the  whole  of  it.  So  that  now  that 
great  and  (landing  written  rule,  which  was  begun  about 
Mofes's  time,  was  completed  and  fettled,  and  a  curfe  de- 
nounced againft  him  that  adds  any  tiling  to  it,  or  diminiflies 
any  thing  from  it.  All  the  flated  means  of  grace  were 
hniflied  in  the  apoftolical  age,  and  are  to  remain  unaltered 
to  the  day  of  judgment,  (h) — Thus  far  we  have  confidered  , 
thofe  things  by  which  the  means  of  grace  were  given  and 
eflabliflied  in  the  Chriftian  church. 

§  III.  The 

(h)   The  New  Testament  wnV/t^^.]     It  may  not  be   unac- 
ceptable to  our  readers  toprefent  them  with  the  following  fcheme, 
from  the  bcil  authorities,  of  the  order  in   which  the  New  Telta- 
ment  was  written,  with  the  authors  and  dates  of  each  book. 
The  Gospels — according  to  Dr.  Owen. 
St.  Matthew's,     —     at  Jerufalem,  about  A.  D.  38. 

St.  Luke's,  —     at  Corinth,  53. 

St.  Mark's,  —     at  Rome,  67^. 

St.  John's,  —     at  Ephefus,  69. 

The  Acts. 

By  St.  Luke,       —     at  Rome  or  Alexandria,  6^. 

St.  Paul's  Epistles — according  to  Dr.  Lardner. 

I.  Theflalonians,  at  Corinth,  52. 

II.  Theflalonians,  Ditto,  52. 

Galatians,  —     at  Corinth,  52. 

I.  Corinthians,      —     at  Ephefus,  ^6. 

I.  Timothy,  —     at  Macedonia,  c6. 

Titus,  —         Ditto,  ^6. 

II.  Corinthians,    —         Ditto,  57. 

Romans,  —     at  Corinth,  ^2. 

3  D  Ephe- 


5^6        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

§  III.  The  success  of  Christ's  redemption  dur- 
ing   THE    SUFFERING    STATE    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

W  E  now  come  to  confider  the  fuccefs  of  ChriiVs  re- 
demption during  the  church's  fuffering  perfecuted  ftate, 
from  the  refurreftion  of  Chrift  to  the  fall  of  antichrift. 
This  fpace  of  time,  for  the  moft  part,  is  a  ftate  of  the 
church's  fufferings,  and  is  fo  reprefented  in  fcripture.  In- 
deed God  is  pleafed,  out  of  love  and  pity  to  his  elecl,  to 
grant  many  intermiffions  during  this  time,  whereby  the 
days  of  tribulation  are  as  it  were  fhortened.  But  from 
Chrift's  refurre6tion  till  the  fall  of  antichrift,  is  the  ap- 
pointed day  of  Zion's  troubles.  For  the  lirft  three  hun- 
tlred  years  after  Chrift,  the  church  was  for  the  moft  part 
in  a  ftate  of  great  affliflion,  the  obje6l  of  reproach  and 
perfecution  ;  firft  by  the  Jews,  and  then  by  the  heathen. 
After  this,  from  the  beginning  of  Conftantine's  time,  the 
church  had  reft  and  profpcrity  for  a  little  while  ;  which  is 
feprefented  [Rev.  vii.  I.]  by  the  angel's  holding  the  four 
winds  for  a  little  while.  But  prefently  after,  the  church 
again  fufFered  perfecution  from  the  Arians ;  then  antichrift 
rofc,  and  the  church  was  driven  away  into  the  wilderncfs, 
and  was  kept  down  in  obfcuriiy,  and  contempt,  and  fuffer- 
ing, for  a  long  time,  before  the  reformation  by  Luther 

and 

Ephefians,  —  at  Rome,              about  A.  D.  6i. 

IL  Timothy,  —  Ditto,  6i. 

Philippians,  —  Ditto,  62. 

Coloffians,  —  Ditto,  62. 

Philemon,  —  Ditto,  62. 

Hebrews,  —  at  Rome  or  in  Italy,                  63. 

General  Epistles — according  to,  Lardner. 
St.  James,  —       at  Judea, 61  or  62. 

I.  Peter,  —       at  Rome,  64. 

II.  Peter,  —  Ditto,  64. 

Jude,  —       Unknown,  64  or  65. 

I.  II.  and  III.  John,     at  Ephefus,         between         80  8c  90, 

Revelation. 
By  St.  John,       —       at  Patmos  or'Ephefus,  95  or  96. 

[See  Dr.  Otvenh  Obferv.  on  the  Gofpel'sj  and  Lardner^s  Credi- 
bility, vol.  i.  &  fup.J 


TO  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.    387 

and  others.  And  fince  the  reformation,  the  church's  per- 
fccutions  have  been,  in  fome  refpe6ls,  beyond  all  that  ever 
were  before.  And  though  fome  parts  of  God's  church 
have  had  rell:,  yet  to  this  day,  for  the  n^ofl:  part,  the  true 
church  is  very  much  kept  under  by  its  enemies,  and  fo  \vc 
may  expe6l  it  will  continue  till  the  fall  of  antichrift ;  and 
then  will  come  the  appointed  day  of  the  church's  profpe- 
rity  on  earth,  the  fet  time  in  which  God  will  favour  Zion, 
the  time  when  the  faints  lliall  not  be  kept  under  by  wicked 
men,  as  hitherto  ;  but  wherein  they  {hall  be  uppermoft, 
and  fliall  reign  on  earth,  as  it  is  faid,  [Dan.  vii.  27.]  '  And 
'  the  kingdom  fhall  be  given  to  the  people  of  the  faints  of 

*  the  mod  High.' 

This  fuffering  ftate  is  in  fcripture  [Rev.  xii.  i,  2.] 
rcprefented  as  a  time  of  the  church's  travail,  to  bring 
forth  that  glory  and  profperity  of  the  church  which  fliall 
be  after  the  fall  of  antichrift.  This  is  a  long  time  though 
it  be  fpoken  of  as  being  but  for  a  little  feafon,  in  com- 
parifon  of  the  eternal  profperity  of  the  church.  Hence 
the  church,  under  the  long  continuance  of  this  affli6lion, 
cries  out,  [Rev.  vi.  10.]  '  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and 
'  true,  dofi:  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood  on  them 
'  that  dwell  on  the  eartii  ?'  And  we  are  told,  that  '  white 
<  robes  were  given  unto  every  one  of  them  ;  and  it  was 
'  faid  unto  them,  that  they  ihould  reft  yet  for  a  little  fea- 

*  fon,  until  their  fellow  fervants  alfo,  and  their  brethren, 

*  that  fhould  be  killed  as  they  were,  fliould  be  fulfilled.' 
So,  Daniel  [xii.  6.]   '  How  long  fhall  it  be  to  the  end  of 

*  thefe.  wonders  ?' 

It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  during  tliis  time  the  main  In- 
ftrument  of  the  church's  fufFerings  has  been  the  Roman 
government :  Rome  is  therefore,  in  the  New  Teftament, 
[Rev.  xvii.  5.]  called  Babylon  ;  bccaufc,  as  of  old  the  trou- 
bles of  Jerufalem  were  chiefly  from  that  adverfe  city  ;  fo 
the  troubles  of  the  Chriftian  church,  the  fpiritual  Jeru- 
falem,  are  principally  from  Rome.  Before  the  time  of 
Conftantine,  the  troubles  of  the  Chriftian  church  were 
from,  heathen  Rome  ;  fince  that  time,  from  antichriftian 
Kome.     And  as  of  old,    the  captivity  of  the  Jews  ceafed 

3  D  2  on 


388        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

on  the  deftrudion  of  Babylon,  fo  the  time  of  the  trouble 
of  the  Chriftian  church  will  ceafe  with  the  deftrudion  of 
the  church  of  Rome,  that  fpiritual  Babylon. 

In  confidering  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  dur- 
ing this  time  of  the  church's  tribulation,  I  would  Ihow, 
I.  How  it  was  carried  on  till  the  defl:ru6lion  of  Jerufa- 
lem, — 2.  From  thence  to  the  deftrudion  of  the  heathen 
empire  in  the  time  of  Conftantine,— and,  3.  From  that 
time  to  the  deftrudtion  of  antichrift,  with  which  the  days 
of  the  church's  tribulation  and  travail  end. 

I.  I  would  fliow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption 
was  carried  on  from  his  refurrcction  to  the  deftrudtion  of 
Jerufalem.  In  fpeaking  of  this,  I  fhall,  (i.)  take  notice 
of  the  fuccefs  itfelf;  (2.)  the  oppofition  made  againft  its 
enemies ;  and,  (3.)  the  terrible  judgments  of  God  on  thofc 
enemies. 

(i.)  I  would  obferve  the  fuccefs  itfelf.  Soon  after 
Chrift  had  hnilhed  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  and  had 
entered  into  the  holy  of  holies  above  with  liis  own  blood, 
there  began  a  glorious  fuccefs  of  what  he  had  done  and 
fuftered.  Having  undermined  the  foundation  of  Satan's 
kingdom,  it  began  to  fall  apace.  Swiftly  did  it  haften  to 
ruin  ;  and  Satan  might  now  well  be  faid  to  fall, like  light- 
ning from  heaven.  Satan  before  had  exalted  his  throne 
very  high,  even  to  the  ftars  of  heaven,  reigning  with 
great  glory  in  his  lieathen  Roman  empire  :  but  never  be- 
fore had  he  fuch  a  downfal  as  he  had  foon  after  Chrift's 
afceniion.  We  may  fuppofe  him  to  have  been  very  lately 
triumpb.ing  in  having  brought  about  the  death  of  Chrift, 
as  the  greateft  vidory  that  ever  lie  had;  and  poffibly  ima- 
gined he  had  gained  God's  dcfign  by  him.  But  he  was 
quickly  made  fenuble,  that  he  had  only  been  ruining  his 
own  kingdom,  when  he  faw  it  falling  fo  faft  foon  after. 
For  Chrift,  having  afcended,  and  received  the  Holy  Spirit, 
poured  it  forth  abundantly  for  the  converfion  of  tlioufands 
?nd  millions  of  fouls. 

Never  had  Chrift's  kingdom  been  fo  advanced  in  the 
world.     There  probably  were  more   fouls  converted   in 

the 


TO  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.    389 

the  a^e  of  the  apoftles  than  had  been  before  from  the  be- 
trinning  of  the  world.  Thus  God  fo  foon  began  glorioufly 
to  accomplilh  his  promife  to  his  Son,  viz.  that  he  fliould 

*  fee  his  feed,  and  that  the  pleafure  of  the    Lord  fliould 

*  profper  in  his  hand,  if  he  would  make  his  foul  an  offer- 

*  ing  for  fin.'  [Ifa.  liii.  10.]    And, 

[i.]  Here  is  to  be  obferved  the  fuccefs  which  the 
gofpel  had  among  the  Jeivs ;  for  God  lirft  began  with 
them.  He  being  about  to  rejeft  the  main  body  of  that 
people,  firfl:  calls  in  his  ele6l  from  among  them.  It  was 
fo  in  former  great  and  dreadful  judgments  of  God  on 
that  nation  ;  the  bulk  of  them  were  deftroyed,  and  only 
a  remnant  faved,  or  reformed.  In  the  rejedlion  of  the 
ten  tribes,  the  bulk  of  them  were  caft  off,  when  they  left 
the  true  worfhip  of  God  in  Jeroboam's  time,  and  after- 
wards more  fully  in  Ahab's  ;  but  yet  God  had  referred  a 
remnant.  Many  left  their  poffeffions  in  thefe  tribes,  and 
went  and  fettled  in  thofe  of  Judah  and  Benjamin.  And 
afterwards  there  were  feven  thoufand  in  Ahab's  time, 
who  had  not  bowed  the  knee  to  Baal.  In  the  captivity 
into  Babylon,  only  a  remnant  of  them  ever  returned  to 
their  own  land.  So  now  far  the  greater  part  of  the  people 
were  rejcdlcd  entirely,  but  fome  few  were  faved.  And 
therefore  the  Holy  Ghoft  compares  this  refervation  of  a 
number  that  were  converted  by  the  preaching  of  the  apof- 
tles, to  thofe   former   remnants  :   [Rom.  xi.  27.]   '  Efaias 

*  alfo  crieth  concerning  Ifrael,  though  the  number  of  the 

*  children  be  as  the  fand  of  the  fea,  a  remnant  fliall  be 

*  faved.'   [See  Ifa  x,  22.] 

The  glorious  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  among  the  Jews 
after  Chrift's  afccnfion,  began  by  the  pouring  out  of  the 
Spirit  on  the  day  of  Pcntecoft.  So  wonderful  was  this 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit,  and  fo  remarkable  and  fwift 
the  effe6l  of  it,  that  we  read  of  three  thoufand  who  were 
converted  to  the  Chriftian  faith  in  one  day,  [A6ts  ii.  41.] 
and  probably  the  greater  part  of  them  were  favingly 
converted.  We  read  [ver.  47.]  of  God's  adding  to  the 
church  daily  fuch  as  Ihould  be  faved.  And  foon  after, 
we  are   told,  that   the   number  of  them    was    about   five 

thoufand. 


390        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

thoufand.  Not  only  was  there  a  multitude  converted, 
but  the  church  was  then  eminent  in  piety,  as  appears  by 
A6ls  ii.  46,  47.  -,  iv.  32. 

Thus  the  Chriftian  church  was  firft  formed  of  the  na- 
tion of  Ifrael,  and  therefore,  when  the  Gentiles  were 
called,  they  were  but,  as  it  were,  added  to  Ifrael,  to  the 
feed  of  Abraham.  They  were  added  to  the  Chriftian 
church  of  Ifrael,  as  the  profelytes  of  old  were  to  the  Mo- 
faic  church  ;  and  fo  were  grafted  on  the  ftock  of  Abra- 
ham, and  not  a  diftindl  tree  ;  for  they  are  all  ftill  the  feed 
of  Abraham  and  Ifrael ;  as  Ruth  the  Moabitefs,  and  Uiiah 
the  Hittite,  and  other  profelytes  of  old,  were  the  iamc 
people,  and  ranked  as  the  feed  of  Ifrael. 

The  Chriftian  church  at  firft  begun  at  Jerufalem,  and 
from  thence  was  propagated  to  all  nations  ;  fo  that  this 
church  of  Jerufalem  was  as  it  were  the  mother  of  all 
other  churches  in  the  world ;  agreeable  to  the  prophe- 
cy, [Ifa.  ii.  3,  4.]  '  Out  of  Zion  Ihall  go   forth  the  law, 

*  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerufalem  :  and  he 
'  fhalj  judge  among  the  nations,  and  rebuke  many  people.' 
So  that  the  whole  church  is  ftill  fpiritually  God's  Jerufa- 
lem. 

After  this,  we  read  of  many  thoufand  of  Jews  that 
believed  in  Jerufalem,  [A6ls  xxi.  20.]  in  other  cities  of 
Judea,  and  different  parts  of  the  world.  For  wherever  the 
apoftles  went,  if  they  found  any  Jews,  their  manner  was, 
firft  to  go  into  the  fynagogues  and  preach  the  gofpel  to 
them,  and  many  in  one  place  and  another  believed  ;  as  in 
Damafcus,  Antioch,  tec. 

In  this  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  begun  the  firft  great 
difpenfation  which  is  called  Chrift's  coming  in  his  king- 
dom. Chrift's  coming  thus  in  a  fpiritual  manner  for  the 
glorious  ereftion  of  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  is  repre- 
fented  ns  his  coming  down  from  heaven,  whithei^  he  K'dd 
afcendcd.  [John  xiv.  18.]  'I  will  not  leave  yo"  corii- 
fortlefs ;  I  will  come  unto  you,'  fpeaking  of  his  coming 
by  the  Comforter,  the  Spirit  of  truth.     And,   [ver.   28.]' 

*  Ye  have  heard  how  I  fay  unto  you,  I  go   away,  and 

*  come  again  unto  you.'  And  thus  the  apoftles  began  to 
/  fee 


TO  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.    395 

fee   the  kingdom  of  heaven  come  with  power,  as  he  had 
piomifed.  [Mark  ix.  i.] 

[2.]  After  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  had  been  fo  glo- 
rioufly  begun  among  the  Jews,  the  fpirit  of  God  was  next 
wonderfully  poured  out  on  the  Samaritans,  who  were  not 
Jews  by  nation,  but  the  pofterity  of  thofe  whom  the  king 
of  Affyria  removed  from  different  parts  of  his  dominions, 
and  fettled  in  the  land  that  was  inhabited  by  the  ten  tribes, 
whom  he  carried  captive.  But  yet  they  had  received  the 
live  books  of  Mofes  and  pradlifed  moft  of  the  rites  of  the 
law,  and  lo  were  a  iort  of  mongrel  Jews.  We  do  not 
find  them  reckoned  as  Gentiles  in  the  New  Tefbament : 
for  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles  is  fpoken  of  as  a  new 
thing  after  this,  beginning  with  the  converfion  of  Corne- 
lius. But  yet  it  was  an  intiance  of  making  that  a  peo- 
ple which  were  no  people  :  for  they  had  corrupted  the 
religion  which  Mofes  commanded,  and  did  not  go  up  to 
Jerufalem  to  worlhip,  but  had  another  temple  of  their  own 
in  Mount  Gerizzim  ;  which  is  the  mountain  of  whicl> 
the  woman  of  Samaria  fpeaks,  when  ihe  fays,  [John  iv. 
20.]  '  Our  fathers  worfhipped  in  this  mountain.'  Chrilt 
there  does  not  approve  of  their  feparation  from  the  Jews, 
but  tells  the  woman  of  Samaria,  that  they  worlhipped  they 
knew  not  what,  and  that  falvation  is  of  the  Jews.  But 
now  falvation  is  brought  from  the  Jews  to  them  by  the 
^preaching  of  Philip,  (excepting  that  before  Chrift  had 
fome  fuccefs  among  them),  with  whofe  preaching  there 
was  a  glorious  efTuiion  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  tlie  city  of 
Samaria  ;  where ,  we  are  told,  that  '  the  people  believed 
'  Philip  preaching  the  things  concerning  the  kingdom  of 
'  Chriil,  and  were  baptized,  both  men  and  women  ;  and 
'  that  there  was  great  joy  in  that  city.'  [Adsviii.  8—12.]. 

Thus  Chrift  had  a  glorious  harveft  in  Samaria  ;  which 
is  what  he  feems  to  have  rcfped  to,  in  what  he  faid  to 
his  difciples  at  Jacob's  well  three  or  four  years  before,  on 
occalion  of  the  people  of  Samaria's  appearing  at  a  diftance 
in  the  iieldij  coming  to  the  place  where  he  was,  at  the 
inftigation  of  the  woman  of  Samaria.  On  that  occafioa 
he  bids  his  difciples  lift  up  their  eyes  to  the   fields,  for  tlm 

thev 


392        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

they  were  white  to  the  harveft.  [John  iv.  35,  36.]  The 
difpofition  which  the  people  of  Samaria  fhowed  towards 
Chrift  and  his  gofpel,  evidenced  that  they  were  ripe  for  the 
harveft.  And  now  harveft  is  come  by  Philip's  preaching. 
There  ufed  to  be  a  moft  bitter  enmity  between  the  Jews 
and  Samaritans ;  but  now,  by  their  convcrfion,  the 
Chriftian  Jews  and  Samaritans  are  all  happily  united  ;  for 
in  Chrift  Jefus  is  neither  Jew  nor  Samaritan,  but  Chrift 
is  all  in  all.  This  was  a  glorious  inftance  of  the  wolf's 
dwelling  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard's  lying  down  with 
the  kid.  [Ifa,  xi.  6.] 

[3.]  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved,  is  the  calling  of 
the  Gentiles.  This  was  a  great  and  glorious  difpenfation 
much  fpoken  of  in  the  Old  Tcftament,  and  by  the  apoftles 
time  after  time,  as  a  moft  glorious  event  of  Chrift's  re- 
demption. This  was  begun  in  the  converfion  of  Corne- 
lius and  his  family,  greatly  to  the  admiration  of  Peter, 
and  of  thofe  who  were  with  him  or  were  informed  of  it ; 
[A6ls  X.  &xi.]  And  the  next  inftance  of  it  that  we  have 
any  account  of,  was  in  the  converfion  of  great  numbers  af 
Gentiles  in  Cyprus,  and  Syrene,  and  Antioch,  by  the  dif- 
ciples  that  were  fcattered  abroad  through  the  perfccution 
which  arofe  about  Stephen.  [A£ts  xi.  i^ — 21.]  And  pre- 
fently  upon  this  the  difciples  began  to  be  called  Chriftians 
firft  at  Antioch.  [ver.  26.] 

After  this,  vaft  multitudes  of  Gentiles  were  converted 
in  many  different  parts  of  the  world,  chiefly  by  the  mi- 
niftry  of  the  apoftle  Paul,  the  Spirit  wonderfully  accom- 
panying his  preaching  in  one  place  and  another.  Mul- 
titudes flocked  into  the  church  of  Chrift  in  a  great  num- 
der  of  cities  where  the  apoftle  came.  So  the  number  of 
the  members  of  the  Chriftian  churclj  that  were  Gentiles, 
foon  far  exceeded  the  number  of  its  Jewifti  members  ; 
infomuch  that  in  lefs  than  ten  years  time  after  Paul  was 
fent  forth  from  Antioch  to  preach  to  the  Gentiles,  it  was 
faid  of  him  and  his  companions,  that  they  had  turned  the 
world  upfide  down.  [A6ts  xvii.  16.]  *  Thefe  that  have 
*  turned  the  world  upfide  down  .are  come  hither  alfo.' 
But  the  moft   remarkable  oul-pouring  of  the  Spirit   in  a 

particular 


TO  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.    393 

particular  city  that  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  New 
T€ftamcnt,  feems  to  be  that  in  the  great  city  of  Ephefus. 
[Ads  xix.]  There  was  alfo  a  very  extraordinary  in- 
gathering of  fouls  at  Corinth,  one  of  the  greateft  cities  of 
Greece.  And  after  this  many  were  converted  in  Rome, 
then  the  chief  city  of  the  known  world  ;  and  the  gof- 
pel  v/as  propagated  into  all  parts  of  the  Roman  empire. 
Thus  the  golpel  fun,  which  had  lately  rifen  on  the  Jews, 
now  rofe  upon,  and  began  to  enlighten,  the  heathen  world 
after  they  had  continued  in  grofs  darknefs  for  fo  many 
ages. 

This  was  a  great  thing,  and  fuch  as  never  had  been 
before.  All  nations  but  the  Jews,  and  a  few  who  had  at 
one  time  and  another  joined  with  them,  had  been  rejec- 
ted from  about  Mofes's  time.  The  Gentile  world  had 
been  covered  over  with  the  thick  darknefs  of  idolatry  ; 
but  now,  at  the  joyful  found  of  the  gofpel,  they  began  in 
all  parts  to  forfake  their  old  idols,  to  abhor  and  caft  them 
to  the  moles  and  to  the  bats,  and  to  learn  to  worflrip  the 
true  God,  and  truft  in  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift  :  and  God 
owned  them  for  his  people  ;  thofe  who  had  fo  long  been 
afar  off,  were  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Chrill.  Men 
were  changed  from  being  heathenifh  and  brutifli,  to  be 
the  children  of  God  ;  were  called  out  of  Satan's  kingdom 
of  darknefs,  and  brought  into  God's  marvellous  light ; 
and  in  almofl  all  countries  throughout  the  known  world 
were  aflemblies  of  the  people  of  God  ;  joyful  praifes  were 
lung  to  the  true  God,  and  Jefus  Chrift  the  Redeemer. 
Now  that  great  building  which  God  began  foon  after  the 
fall  of  man,  rifes  glorioufly,  not  as  it  had  done  in  former 
ages,  but  in  quite  a  new  manner ;  now  Daniel's  prophe- 
cies concerning  the  laft  kingdom,  which  fhould  iucceed 
the  four  heathenilh  monarchies,  begin  to  be  fulfilled ; 
now  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the  mountains  without  hands, 
began  to  Imite  the  image  on  its  feet,  to  break  it  in  pieces, 
to  grow  great,  and  to  make  great  advances  towards  filling 
the  earth  ;  and  now  God  gathers  together  the  ele6l  from 
rhe  four  winds  of  heaven,  by  the  preaching  of  the  apollles 
and  other  miniilers,  the  angels  of  the   Chriftian  church 

q  E  fent 


594        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fent  forth  with  the  great  found  of  the  gofpel  trumpet, 
before  the  deftru6tioii  of  Jerufalem,  agreeable  to  what 
Chrill:  had  foretold.  [Matt.  xxiv.  31.]— This  was  the 
fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  during  the  lirfi:  period  of  die 
Chriftian  church,  which  terminated  in  the  deftruiStion  of 
Jerufalem. 

(2.)  I  would  proceed  now  to  take  notice  of  the  oppo- 
fition  which  was  made  to  tliis  fuccefs  by  the  enemies  of 
it.  Satan,  who  lately  was  fo  ready  to  triumph  and  exult, 
as  though  he  had  gained  the  vi6i:ory  in  putting  Chrift  to 
death,  now  finding  himfelf  falling  into  the  pit  which  he 
had  digged,  and  feeing  Chrift's  kingdom  make  fuch  amaz- 
ing progrefs,  as  never  had  been  before,  wc  may  conclude 
he  was  filled  with  the  greateft  confulion  and  aftonifhment, 
and  hell  feemed  to  be  efFedlually  alarmed  by  it  to  make  the 
moft  violent  oppofition.  And,  firft,  the  devil  ftirred  up 
the  Jews,  who  had  before  crucified  Chrift,  to  perfecute  the 
church  :  for  it  is  obferveable,  that  the  perfecution  which 
the  church  fufFered  during  this  period,  was  moftly  from 
the  Jews.  Thus  we  read  in  the  Adls,  when,  at  Jerufa- 
lem, the  Holy  Ghoft  was  poured  out  at  Pentecoft,  how 
the  Jews  mocked,  and  faid,  '  Thet'e  men  are  full  of  new 
'  wine  ;'  and  the  Scribes  and  Pharifces,  w^th  the  captain 
of  the  temple,  were  alarmed,  and  beftirred  themfelves  to 
oppofe  and  perfecute  the  apoftles ;  they  firft  apprehended 
and  threatened  them,  and  afterwards  imprifoned  and  beat 
them  ;  breathing  out  threatenings  and  llaughter  againft 
the  difciples  of  the  Lord,  they  ftoned  Stephen  in  a  tumul- 
tuous rage  ;  and  were  not  content  to  perfecute  thofe  that 
they  could  find  in  Judea,  but  fent  abroad  to  Damafcus 
and  other  places,  to  perfecute  all  that  they  could  find  every 
where.  Herod,  who  was  chief  among' them,  ftretched 
forth  his  hand  to  vex  the  church,  killed  James  with  the 
fword,  and  proceeded  to  take  Peter  alfo,  and  caft  him  into 
prifon.   [Adsxii.  1—3.] 

So  in  other  countries,  alm.oft  wherever  the  apoftles 
came,  the  Jews  oppofed  the  gofpe^  in  a  moft  malignant 
manner,  contradicting  and  blafpheming.  How  many 
things  did  the  blefled  apoftle   Paul  fuftisr  at  their  hands 

in 


TO  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.    395 

in  one  place  or  another  !  How  violent  and  blood-thirrcy 
did  they  fliew  themfeives  towards  him,  when  he  came  to 
bring  mercy  to  his  nation  !  In  this  perlccution  and  cruelty 
was  fultilled  that  of  Chrift,  [Matt,  xxiii.  34.]  '  Behold, 
'  I  fend  you  prophets,  and  wife  men,  and  fcribes  ;  and 
'  Ibme  of  them  ye  Ihall  kill  and  crucify,  and  fome  of  them 

*  fhali  ye  fcourge  in  your  fynagogues,  and  perfecute  them 

*  from  city  to  city.' 

(3.)  I  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  judgments  wiiich 
were  executed  on  thofc  enemies  of  Chrift,  the  perfecuting 
Jews. 

[i.]  The  bulk  of  the  people  were  given  up  to  judicial 
blindnefs  of  mind  and  hardnefs  of  heart.  Chrilt  de- 
nounced fuch  a  woe  upon  tiiem  in  the  days  of  his  fiefli  ; 
[Matt.  xiii.  14,  15.]  and  the  apoftle  Paul  repeated  it, 
[A6Vs  xxviii.  25— 27.]  and  under  this  curfe,  this  judicial 
blindnefs  and  hardnefs,  tliey  remain  to  this  very  day,  hav- 
ing been  fubjc6l  to  it  for  about  1700  years,  being  the  moft 
awful  inftance  of  fuch  a  judgment,  and  monuments  of 
God's  terrible  vengeance,  of  any  people  that  ever  were. 
That  they  Ihould  continue  from  generation  to  generation 
fo  obftinately  to  rejedl  Chrift,  fo  that  it  is  a  very  rare 
thing  that  any  one  of  them  is  converted  to  the  Chriftian 
faith,  though  their  own  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament, 
which  they  acknowledge,  are  fo  full  of  plain  tcftimonies 
againft  them,  is  a  remarkable  evidence  of  their  beini^ 
dreadfully  left  of  God. 

[2.]  They  were  rcje6led  and  caft  off"  from  being  any 
longer  God's  vifiblc  people.  They  were  broken  off  from 
th«  ftock  of  Abraham,  and  fmce  that  have  no  "more  been 
reputed  his  feed,  tlian  t!ie  Ilhmaelites  or  Edomites,  who 
are  as  much  his  natural  feed  as  they  are.  The  greater  pait 
of  the  two  tribes  were  now  caft  otf,  as  the  ten  tribes  had 
been  before,  and  another  people  were  taken  in  their  room, 
agreeable  to  the  predictions  of  their  own  prophets :  as  of 
Alojes,  [Deut.  xxxii.  21.]  '  They  have  moved  me  to  jea- 
'  loufy  with  that  which  is  not  God  ;  they  have  provoked 

*  me  to  anger  with  their  vanities  ;  and  I  will  move  them 

*  tojealoufy  with  thofe  which   are  not  a  people,  I   will 

3  E  2  '  provoke 


396  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  provoke  them  to  anger  with  a  foolifli  nation;'  and  of 
Ifa'iah,   [Ixv.  i.]     '   I  am  fought  of  them   that  afked   not 

*  for  me  ;  I  am  found  of  them  that  fought  me  not.' — 
They  were  vifibly  rejedled  and  caft  off,  by  God's  direfting 
his  apoftles  to  turn  away  from  them,  and  let  them  alone  ; 
[A6l's   xiii.  46,  47.]    '  Then    Paul    and   Barnabas   waxed 

*  bold,  and  faid,   It  was  neceffary  that  the   word  of  God 

*  fliould  firil:  have  been  fpoken  to  you  :  but  feeing  ye  put 
^  it  from  you,  and  judge  yourfelves  unworthy  of  everlaft- 

*  ing  life,  lo,  we  turn  to  the   Gentiles ;  for  fo  hath  the 

*  Lord  commanded  us.'  [See  alfo  A6ls  xviii.  6.  and 
xxviii.  28.] 

Thus  far  we  have  had  the  fcripture  hiflory  to  guide  us ; 
henceforward  we  fhall  have  the  guidance  only  of  two 
things,  fcripture  prophecy,  and  human  hiilory. 

(3.)  The  third  and  lafl  judgment  of  God  on  thofe  ene- 
mies of  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  which  I  fhall  mention 
is  the  terrible  deftruftion  of  their  city  and  country  by 
the  Romans.  They  had  great  warning,  and  many  means 
were  ufed  with  them  before  this  defl:ru6lion.  Firft,  John 
the  Baptift  warned  them,  and  told  them,  that  the  axe 
was  laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree  ;  and  that  every  tree  which 
iliould  not  bring  forth  good  fruit,  fhould  be  hewn  down 
and  caft  into  the  fire.  [Matt.  iii.  10.]  Then  Chrifl 
warned  them  very  particularly,  and  told  them  of  their 
approaching  deflrudlion,  and  at  the  thoughts  of  it  wept 
over  them.  After  Chrifl's  afcenfion  the  apoftles  abun- 
dantly warned  them.  But  they  obftinately  went  on  in 
their  oppofition  to  Chrift  and  his  church,  and  in  their 
bitter  perfecuting  practices.  Their  malignant  perfecution 
of  the  apoftle  Paul,  of  which  we  have  an  account  to- 
wards the  end  of  the  A6ts  of  the  apoflle's,  is  fuppofed  to 
have  been  not  more  than  feven  or  eight  years  before  their 
deflrudlion. 

After  this  God  was  pleafed  to  give  them  another  re- 
markable warning  by  the  apoftle  Paul,  in  his  epiftle  to 
the  Hebrews,  which  was  written,,  as  is  fuppofed,  about 
four  years  before  their  deftru6tion  :  wherein  the  plaineft 
and  cleareft  arguments  are  fet  before  them  from  their  own 

law. 


TO  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.    397 

law,  and  from  their  prophets,  for  whom  they  profefled  fiich 
a  regard,  to  prove  that  Chrift  Jefus  mull:  be  the  Son  of 
God,  and  that  all  their  law  pointed  to  him  and  typified 
him,  and  that  their  Jewilh  difpenfation  muft  needs  have 
now  ccafed.  For  though  the  epiftlc  was  more  immediately 
diredted  to  the  Chriflian  Hebrews,  yet  the  matter  of  the 
epiftle  plainly  fliows  that  the  apoftle  intended  it  for  the 
ufe  and  convi6tion  of  the  unbelieving  Jews.  And  in  this 
epiftle  he  mentions  particularly  the  approaching  dcftruc- 
tion  and  fiery  indignation  which  fhould  devour  the  adver- 
faries.     [Chap.  x.  25—27.] 

But  the  generality  of  them  refufing  to  receive  convidtion, 
God  foon  deftroyed  them  with  fuch  terrible  circumftanccs, 
as  the  dcftrudlion  of  no  country  or  city  fince  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world  can  parallel  ;  agreeable  to  what  Chrift 
foretold.  [Matt.  xxiv.  21.]  '  For  then  fhall  be  tribulation, 
*  fuch  as  was  not  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this 
'  time,  no,  nor  ever  fliall  be,'  The  deftru6lion  of  Jerufa- 
lem  by  the  Babylonians  was  very  terrible,  as  it  is  in  a  moft 
affecting  manner  dcfcribed  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  in 
his  Lamentations  ;  but  this  was  notliing  to  the  dreadful 
mifery  and  wrath  which  they  fufFered  in  this  deftru6lion  : 
God,  according  as  Chrift  foretold,  bringing  on  them  all 
the  righteous  blood  that  had  been  Ihed  from  the  foundation 
ofthcwoild.  Thus  the  enemies  of  Chrift  are  made  his 
footftool  after  his  afcenfion,  agreeable  to  God's  promife, 
[Pfal.  ex.  I.]  and  Chrift  rules  them  with  a  rod  of  iron. 
They  had  been  kicking  againft  Chrift,  but  they  did  but 
kick  againft  tlie  pricks.  The  briars  and  thorns  fet  them- 
felves  againft  him  in  battle  ;  but  he  went  through  them  ; 
he  burnt  them  up  together.     [Tfa.  xxvii.  4.] 

The  deftru6lion  of  Jerufalem  was  in  all  rcfpetSVs  agree- 
able to  what  Chrift  had  foretold,  [Alatt.  xxiv.]  by  the  ac- 
count which  Jofephus  gives  of  it,  who  was  then  prefent, 
and  was  one  of  the  Jews  who  had  a  fhare  in  the  calamity, 
and  wrote  the  hiftory  of  their  deftrudlion.  (i)  Many  cir- 
cumftanccs 

( ^ )  jferufalem  dejlroyedy  as  Chrift  had  foretold.]  A  compa- 
ilfon  of  our  Lord's  predictions,  with  the  narrative  of  the  Jewifh 
hilloriau,   jfofephusy  forms  the   moft   ftrlking  correfpondence  of 

prophecy 


398        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

cuniftances  of  this  deftru£Hon  refembled  the  deftrudtion 
of  the  wicked  at  the  day  of  judgment,  by  his  account, 
being  accompanied  with  many  fearful  fights  in  the  heavens, 

and 

prophecy  and  hiftory  that  was  perhaps  ever  exhibited,  as  is  fhewn 
at  large  by  Bp.  Ne^ivton  [on  the  Prophecies,  vol.  it.  dif.  i8.]  from 
whom  we  fhall  feleft  the  few  following  circumftances  : 

1.  Many  falfe  Chrifls  were  to  precede  this  event. — Such  were 
Simon  Magus,  [Ads  viii.  9,  10.]  Theudas,  Judas  of  Gahlec. 
[A£ls  V.  36,  37.]  The  Egyptian  impollor.  [Afts  xxi.  38.]  And 
many  others  mentioned  by  Jofephus. 

2.  Wars,  famines,  peftilence,  and  earthquakes  ! — Jofephus,  [dc 
Bello  Jud.  lib.  ii.]  is  full  of  the  nvars  and  rumours  of  wafs  in  the 
reigns  of  Caligula,  Claudius,  and  Nero,  during  which  numbers 
were  deflroyed. Fam'incs,  particularly  one  in  the  days  of  Clau- 
dius, mentioned  by  St.  Luke,  [Aftsxi.  28.]  Jofephus,  and  Sue- 
tonius. '  Earthquakes  in  divers  places,'  as  in  Crete,  Smyrna, 
Miletus,  Chios,  Samos,  Laodicea,  Hierapolis,  Colofle,  Campania, 
and  Rome,  mentioned  by  Philollratus,  Tacitus,  Suetonius,  and 
Jofephus. 

3.  *  Fearfulfights  and  great  figns,' — Jofephus  mentions  a  liar 
in  fhape  like  a  fword,  hanging  over  Jerufalem  for  a  long  time  to- 
gether— armies  fighting  in  the  clouds,  a  miraculous  light  in  the 
night  for  half  an  hour  ;  a  cow  which  brought  forth  a  lamb  ;  the 
maffy  brazen  gate  of  the  temple  opening  of  itfelf ;  a  voice  in  the 
temple,  *  Arife,  let  us  go  hence  ;'  and  what  he  reckons  worfe  than 
all,  the  extraordinary  conduft  of  one  Jcfus,  (an  apparent  lunatic) 
who  for  more  than  feven  years  went  about  the  city  proclaiming 

*  woe  to  Jerufalem — woe  to  the  city,  and  to  the  people,  and  to 

*  the  temple,'  and  could  by  no  means  be  reftrained. 

4.  *  When  ye  fee  the  abomination  of  defolation,'   (i.  e.  Jehifa- 

*  lem  compaffed  with  armies,  Luke  xxi.  20.) — flee  into  the  moun- 

*  tains.'  So  when  Ceftius  Gallus  came  with  his  army,  after  his 
retreat,  and  efpecially  when  Vefpafian  brought  his  forces  againft 
Jerufalem,— numbers  of  Jews  fled  into  the  mountainous  country, 
and  the  Chriftians  in  particular  to  Pella,  on  the  other  fide  Jordan  ; 
fo  that  it  does  not  appear  that  one  Chriftian  pcriflicd  in  the  dellruc- 
tion  of  Jerufalem. 

5.  *  Not  one  ttone  to  be  left  upon  another.' — This  was  fulfilled 
by  the  foldiers  of  Titus  burning  the  temple,  and  tlien  digging,  and 
atterwards  Terentius  Kuhis  p/oughing  up  its  foundation. 

6.  Then  fliall  be  great  tribulation,  fuch  as  had  not  been  *  from 

*  the  beginning  of  the  world  ;  they  fliall  be  flain,  and  led  captive 
'  into  ail  nations.' — So  Jofephus,  "  If  the  misfortunes  of  all  from 
the  beginning  of  the  woild  were  compared  v^-ith  thofe  of  the  Jev^s, 
they  v;ould  appear  much  inferior  upon  the  comparifon."  [Proem. 
^  4.]     To  evince  the  truth  of  this  remark,  we  fhall  fubjoin  a  lift 

of 


OF  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM.     399 

and  with  a  feparation  of  the  righteous  from  the  wicked. 
Their  city  and  temple  were  burnt,  and  rafed  to  the  ground, 
and  the  ground  on  which  the  city  flood,  was  ploughed  ;  and 
fo  one  ftone  was  not  left  upon  another.   [Matt.  xxiv.  2.] 

The  people  had  ceafed  for  the  moft  part  to  be  an  inde- 
pendent government  after  the  Babylonifh  captivity  :  but 
tlie  fceptre  entirely  departed  from  Judea,  on  the  deatli  of 
Archelaus  ;  and  then  Judca  was  made  a   Roman  province  : 

after 


of  the  unhappy  Jews  that  pcrifhed  in  this  dcllrudion, 
and  the  neighbouring  countries,  as  collefted  by  L'l^ius  an 
from  various  parts  of  Jofephus's  hiftory. 

At  Jerufalem,  by  Florus's  orders,  

By  the  inhabitants  of  Csfarea,  

At  Scythopolis  in  Syria,  

At  Afcalon,  

At  Ptolemais,  

At  Alexandria,  

At  Damafcus, 


At  the  taking  of  Joppa  by  Ceftius  Gallus, 

In  the  mountain  of  Afamon,  

In  a  fight  at  Afcalon,  

In  an  ambufh,  ■ 

At  Japha,  

Upon  mount  Gerizzim,  

At  Joppa,  when  taken  by  Vefpafian, 

Slain  at  Tarichae,  

Slain,  or  killed  themfelves,  at  Gamala, 
Killed  in  their  flight  from  Gifchala, 
At  the  fiege  of  Jotapa, 


Of  the  Gadarenes  (befides  numbers  drowned) 

In  the  villages  of  Idumea,  

At  Gerafa, , 

At  Machcerus,  

Slew  themfelves  at  Mafada,  

In  the  defert  of  Jardes,  

In  Cyrene,  by  the  Governor  Catulus,  

At  Jerufalem,  during  the  fiege,  i 


in  Judea 
d  others, 

3,600 

20,000 

13,000 

2,500 

2,000 

50,000 

10,000 

8,400 

2,000 

10,000 

8,000 

15,000 

1 1,600 

4,200 

7»7oo 

9,000 

6,000 

40,000 

15,000 

10,000 

1,000 

1,700 

960 

3,000 

3,000 

,100,000 


Total,     1,357,660 


Add  tothefe  97,000  prifoners  doomed  to  flavery,  befides  i  i,coo 
ftarved  to  death  through  negleft  or  otherwife,  and  an  innumerable 
multitude  which  perifhed  in  woods,  caves,  deferts,  &c.  of  whom 
no  computation  could  be  made.  [G.  E.J 


400        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

after  this  they  were  rejeded  from  being  the  people  of  God ; 
but  now  their  very  city  and  land  are  utterly  deftroyed,  and 
themfelves  carried  away  ;  and  fo  have  continued  in  their 
difperfions  through  the  world  for  now  1700  years. 

Thus  there  was  a  final  end  to  the  Old  Teftament  world  : 
all  was  finiihed  with  a  kind  of  day  of  judgment,  in  which 
the  people  of  God  were  faved,  and  his  enemies  terribly 
deftroyed. — Thus  does  he  who  was  fo  lately  mocked,  def- 
pifed,  and  fpit  upon  by  thefe  Jews,  and  whofe  followers 
they  fo  malignantly  perfecuted,  appear  glorioufly  exalted 
over  his  enemies. 

HAVING  thus  fliown  how  the  fucccfs  of  Chrift's  pur- 
chafe  was  carried  on  till  the  deftrud^ion  of  Jerufalem,  I 
come  now, 

2.  To  lliow  how  it  was  carried  on  from  that  time  till 
the  deftru6lion  of  the  heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Con- 
ftantine  the  Great,  which  is  the  fecond  great  event  com- 
pared to  Chrift's  coming  to  judgment. 

Jerufalem  was  deftroyed  about  the  year  of  our  Lord  68, 
(k)  and  fo  before  that  generation  paffed  away  which  was 
contemporary  with  Chrift  ;  and  it  was  about  thirty-five 
years  after  Chrift's  death.  The  deftrudi-ion  of  the  heathen 
empire  under  Conftantine,  was  about  260  years  after  this. 
In  Ihowing  how  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  was  carried  on 
through  this  time,  I  would,  (i.)  Take  notice  of  the  op- 
pofition  made  againft  it  by  the  Roman  empire.  (2.)  How 
the  work  of  the  gofpel  went  on  notwithftanding  that  op- 
pofition.  (3.)  The  peculiar  circumftances  of  tribulation 
and  diftrefs  the  church  was  in  juft  before  their  deliverance 
by  Conftantine.  The  great  revolution  of  Conftantine's 
time. 

(I.)   I 

(k)  Jervfahm  chjlroyed  k'&ow  A.  D.  68.]  We  would  take 
this  opportunity  to  obferve,  that,  probably,  our  author's  dates, 
were  often  taken  from  memory,  with  an  intent  to  revife  them  be- 
fore publication,  had  his  life  been  fpared.  They  differ,  however, 
but  very  little  from  the  belt  authorities,  and  this  difference  wc 
fliall  carefully  obferve.  The  detlruction  of  Jerufalem  is  commonly 
placed  in  A,  D.  70.  [G.  E.J 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONST ANTINE.        40: 

(i.)  I  would  briefly  fliovv  what  oppofition  was  made 
againft  the  gofpel,  and  the  kingdom  of  Cliiift,  by  the  Ro- 
man empire.  The  oppofition  that  was  made  to  the  gofpel 
by  the  heathen  Roman  empire,  was  chiefly  after  the  de- 
fl:ru6lion  of  Jerufalem  though  the  oppofition  began  be- 
fore; but  the  oppofition  that  was  before  the  deftrudion 
of  Jerufalem,  was  principally  by  the  Jews.  But  when 
Jerufalem  was  deftroyed,  the  Jews  were  put  out  of  a  capa- 
city of  troubling  the  church.  Now  therefore  the  devil 
turns  his  head  elfewhere,  andufes  other  inftruments.  The 
oppofition  which  was  made  in  the  Roman  empire  againfl 
the  kingdom  of  Ghrift,  was  of  two  kinds. 

[i.]  They  employed  all  their  learning,  philofophy,  and 
wit,  in  oppofing  it.  Ghrirt,  as  we  have  obferved,  came 
into  the  world  when  learning  and  philofophy  were  at  their 
height.  This  Was  employed  to  the  utmofl:  againft  the 
kingdom  of  Chrift.  The  gofpel,  which  held  forth  a  cruci- 
tied  Saviour,  was  not  at  all  agreeable  to  the  notions  of  the 
philofophcrs.  The  Chriftian  fcheme  of  trufting  in  fuch 
a  cruciticd  Redeemer  appeared  foolifh  and  ridiculous  to 
them*  Greece  was  a  country  the  moft  famous  for  learn- 
ing of  any  in  the  Roman  empire  :  but  the  apoftle  obferves, 
tliat  the  do(5lrine  of  Chrift  crucified  appeared  fooliihncls 
to  the  Greeks,  [i  Gor.  i.  23.]  and  therefore  the  wife  men 
and  philofophers  oppofed  the  gofpel  with  all  their  wit: 
We  have  a  fpecimen  of  their  oppofition  in  their  treatment 
of  the  apoftle  Paul  at  Athens,  which  had  been  for  many 
ages  the  chief  feat  of  philofophy.  We  read,  [A<fts  xvii. 
18.]  that  the  philofophers  of  the  Epicureans  and  Stoicks 
encountered  him,  faying,  '  What  will  this  babbler  fay  ? 
'  He  feemcih  to  be  a  fetter  forth  of  ft  range  gods.'  So 
they  were  wont  to  deride  and  ridicule  Ghriftianity.  And 
after  the  deftrndlion  of  Jerufalem,  feveral  philofophers 
publilhed  books  againft  it;  the  chief  of  whom  were  Celjus 
and  Porphyry,  (l)  who  wrote  againft  the  Ghriftian  re- 
ligion 


(l)  Celsus  and  Porphyry.]  Celfus,  not  the  phyfician,  bat 
the   Epicurean   philofophcr,    flouriflied  about  A.  D.  150;    and 

3  F  Pox- 


4oi        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

ligion  with  a  great  deal  of  virulence  and  contempt,  mucli 
after  the  manner  of  the  Deifls  of  the  prefent  age.  Some 
of  their  writings  yet  remain.  As  great  enemies  and  def- 
pifers  as  they  were  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  yet  they 
never  denied  the  facls  recorded  of  Chrift  and  his  apoftles 
in  the  New  Teftament,  particularly  the  miracles  which 
they  wrought,  but  allowed  them.  They  lived  too  near 
the  times  wherein  thefe  miiacles  were  wrought  to  deny 
them  ;  for  they  ivere  fo  publicly  done,  and  fo  lately,  that 
neither  Jews  nor  heathens  in  thofe  days  could  deny  them ; 
but  they  afcribed  them  to  the  power  of  magic. 

[2.]  The  Roman  emperors  employed  all  their  ftrength 
and  policy,  time  after  time,  to  perfecute,  and  if  poiTible 
to  root  out  Chriftianity.  This  they  did  in  ten  general 
fucceffive  pedecutions.  We  have  before  obferved,  that 
Chrift  came  into  the  world  when  the  heathen  dominion 
and  authority  was  at  its  greateft  height,  during  the  Ro- 
man empire,  the  moft  powerful  human  monarchy  that 
ever  was  on  earth.  All  the  ftrength  of  this  monarchy 
was  employed  for  a  long  time  to  oppofe  and  perfecute 
the  Chriftian  church,  and  if  poffible  to  deftroy  it,  in 
ten  fucceffive  attempts,  which  are  called  the  ten  heathen  per- 
fecutlons,  which  are  before  Conftantine. 

The  firft  of  thefe,  which  was  the  pcrfecution  under 
Nero,  was  a  little  before  the  deftru6tion  of  Jerufalem,  in 
which  the  apoftle  Peter  was  crucified,  and  the  apoftlc 
Paul  beheaded,  foon  after  he  wrote  the  Second  Epiftle  to 
Timothy.  When  he  wrote  that  epiftle  he  was  a  prifoner 
at  Rome  under  Nero,  and  expe6led  foon  to  die,  [2  Tim. 
iv.  6.  7.  J  'I  aa:i  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time 
*  or  my  departure  is  at  hand.     I  have  fought  a  good  fight, 

'  I  have 

Porphyry,  a  Platonic  philofopher,  in  the  third  Century.  They 
were  both  violent  oppofers  of  Chriilianity;  but  their  works  are 
periihed,  except  the  fragments  of  them  prclcrvcd  in  the  Chriitian 
Fathers.  The  latter  was  one  of  the  mod  rcfpedlable  adverfaries 
Chriilianity  ever  had;  and,  from  his  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  fcriptures,  fome  have  fuppofed  he  was  once  a  Chriilian. 

[G.E.] 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        403 

*  I  have  finiflied  my  courfe,  I  have  kept  the  faith.' 

And  there  were  many  thoufands  of  other  Chriftians 
flain  in  that  perfecution.  (m)  The  other  nine  perfecu- 
tions  were  all  after  the  dellrudlion  of  Jcrufalem.  Some 
of  thefe  were  very  terrible  indeed,  and  far  exceeded  the 
firfl:  perfecution  under  Nero.  One  emperor  after  another 
fet  himfelf  with  the  utmoft  rage  to  root  out  the  Chiiftian 
church  from  the  earth,  that  there  fhould  not  be  fo  much 
as  the  name  of  Chriftian  left  in  the  world.  And  thou- 
fands and  millions  were  put  to  cruel  deaths  in  thefc  pcrfc- 
cutions:  for  they  fpared  neither  fex  nor  age,  but  killed 
them  as  faft  as  they  could. 

Under  the  fecond  general  perfecution,  that  which  was 
next  after  the  deftrudllon  of  Jerufalem.  the  apollle  John 
was  banillaed  to  the  iflc  of  Patmos,  where  he  had  thofc 
vifions  of  which  he  has  given  an  account  in  the  Revelation. 
Under  that  perfecution  it  has  been  fuppofcd  that  above 
40,000  fuffered  martyrdom;  which  yet  was  nothing  to 
what  were  put  to  death  under  fome  fuccceding  perfecu- 

3  F  2  tions 

(m)  The  FIRST  perfecution  under  Nero.]  Of  this  Tacitus, 
an  heathen  hiflorlan,  and  therefore  the  more  unexceptionable  au- 
thority, gives  the  following  account:  "  Nero,  to  fupprefs  the 
prevailing  rumour,  that  he  was  tlie  author  of  the  ccnllagration 
[of  Rome]  transferred  the  guilt  upon  fuppofcd  criminals,  fub- 

jecling  to  moft  exquifite  tortures  thofe  people known  to 

the  vulgar   by    the    name   of    Chriftians Flrft,    therefore, 

were  apprehended  thofe  who  openly  owned  themielves  to  be  of 
that  fetfl,  then  by  them  was  difcovered  an  immenfe  multitude, 
and  all  were  conviflcd.  Their  death  and  torture  were  aggravated 
with  cruel  derifion  and  fport ;  for  they  were  either  covered  with 
the  f]<ins  of  wild  beafts,  and  torn  in  pieces  by  devouring  dogs,  or 
fadened  to  crofl'cs,  or  wrapped  up  in  combuftible  garments,  that 
when  the  day-light  failed,  they  might,  like  torches,  ferve  to  difpel 
the  darknefs  of  the  night.  For  this  tragical  fpedacle  Neio  lent 
his  own  gardens,  and  exhibited  at  the  fame  time  the  public  dlver- 
fions   of  the  circus,  fometimes  driving  a  chariot  in  perfon,  ar)d 

fomctimes  ftanding  as  a  fpeCtator Hence,  towards  the  fuf- 

fercrs,  however  guilty  and  deferving  the  moll  exemplary  piini'li- 
ment,   [fo  fpeaks  the  heathen]  compafllon  arofc,  feeing  they  were 

doomed  to  pcrifh to  gratify  the  cruelty  of  one  man." 

[Ann.  lib.  xv.  cap.  44.] 


404        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

tions.  (n)  Many  thoufands  fufFered  cruel  deaths  in  the 
third  perfecution  under  the  Emperor  Adrian,  (o)  The 
fourth  perfecution  began   about  the  year  of  Chrift,    162, 

as 

(n)  The  SECOND  ^fKjT^/ PERSECUTION.]  Tlu's  was  ralfed  by 
Domit'ian,  and  though  fliort  (not  lading  above  a  year)  was  fe- 
vere  for  the  time,  the  tyrant  not  fparing  his  own  relations,  fome 
of  whom  he  flew,  and  banifhed  others.  This  wretch  was  as 
blafphemous  as  he  was  cruel ;  and  when  he  had  transformed  him- 
felf  completely  into  the  image  of  the  devil,  alTumed  the  honours 
of  Deity,  and  would  be  called  nothing  lefs  than  Lord  and  God. 
Mod  hillorians,  ancient  and  modern,  agree  with  our  author  as  to 
St.  John's  banifhment  to  Patmos  in  this  reign  ;  but  the  ftory  of 
his  being  put  into  boiling  oil  is  juftly  rejefled.  [See  Eufeb.  Hift. 
Ecclef  lib.  iii.  cap.  18.] 

(o)  The  THIRD  perfecution.']  Before  the  reign  of  Trajan, 
though  he  is  not  commonly  reckoned  among  the  perfecutors,  as 
making  no  new  edifts  againft  the  Chriftians,  yet  was  highly  pre- 
judiced againll  them,  and  even  himfelf  condemned  fome  ;  a  re- 
markable inftance  of  which  occurs  in  the  martyrdom  of  Ignatius, 
(luppofed  to  have  been  a  difciple  of  St.  John)  of  which  wc  have 
the  following  interefting  account,  prefei-ved  in  the  eplftle  faid  to 
have  been  written  by  eyc-witneffes,  and  publifhed  by  Abp.  UJIjer, 
Dr.  Grabe,  and  other  learned  men. 

The  holy  man  being  brought  before  the  emperor  was  interro- 
gated in  the  following  manner  : 

Trajan.  What  a  wicked  wretch  art  thou,  thus  to  tranfgrefs  our 
commands,  and  to  teach  others  to  do  the  fame,  to  their  deftruftion  ? 

Ignat.  No  one  ought  thus  to  call  Theophorus,  [i.  e.  the  hearer 
of  God,  for  fo  Ignatius  was  called]  forafmuch  as  all  wicked  fpi- 
rits  are  far  from  the  fervants  of  God.  But  if,  becaufe  I  am  a 
trouble  to  thofe  evil  fpirits,  you  call  me  wicked,  with  reference 
to  them  I  confefsthe  charge;  for  polfefTing  Chrifl,  the  heavenly 
King,  I  diflblve  all  the  fnares  of  the  devil. 

Trajan.   And  who  is  Theophorus? 

Ignat.  He  who  has  Chrill  in  his  bofom. 

Trajan.  And  do  mc  not  then  appear  to  have  the  gods  within 
lis,  who  fight  for  us  againft  our  enemies  ? 

Ignat.  You  err,  in  that  you  call  the  evil  fpirits  of  the  heathen, 
gods;  for  there  is  but  one  God,  who  made  heaven  and  earth,  and 
the  fea,  and  all  that  are  in  them,  and  one  Jefus  Chrift,  his  ouly- 
bcgottcn  Son,  whofe  kingdom  may  I  enjoy! 

Tra]nn.  His  kingdom,  you  mean,  who  was  crucified  under  Pon- 
tius Pilate. 

Ignat.  His,  who  crucified  my  fin,  .  ,  .  .  and  has  p\it  all  the  de- 
ceit and  malice  of  the  devil  under  their  feet,  who  carry  him  in 
their  heart. 

Trajan,  Doft  tliou  carrv  him  tlint  was  crucified  within  thee  ? 

hnat. 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        405 

as  fome  reckon,  and  was  felt  even  in  England,  the  land 
of  our  forefathers,  where  Chriftianity  had  been  planted 
very  early,  and,  as  Is  fuppofed,  in  the  days  of  the  apof- 
tles.  (p)  And  in  the  later  perfections,  the  Roman  em- 
perors being  vexed  at  the  fruftration  of  their  predecef- 
fors,  who  were  not  able  to  extirpate  Chriftianity,  or  hin- 
der its  progrefs,  were  enraged  to  be  the  more  violent  in 
their  attempts. 

Thus  a  great  part  of  the  firft  300  years  after  Chrift 
was  fpcnt  in  violent  and  cruel  perfecutions  of  the  church 
by  the  Roman  powers.      Satan  was  very  unwilling  to  quit 

his 

Ignat.  I  do  ;  for  it  is  written,  *  I  will  dwell  in  them,  and  walk 
in  them.' 

Then  Trajan  pronounced  this  fentence — Forafmuch  as  Igna- 
tius hath  confefTed  that  he  carries  about  within  himfelf  Him  that 
vas  crucified,  we  command,  that  he  be  carried  bound  to  the 
great  Ro7ne  by  foldiers,  there  to  be  thrown  to  the  beafts  for  the 
diverfion  of  the  people. — This  fentence  was  foon  after  executed  ; 
and  we  may  judge  of  the  temper  in  which  he  fuffered,  from  the 
following  paffage  in  one  of  his  epillles  written  on  his  journey: 
"  Now  I  begin  to  be  a  difciple  ;  nor  (hall  any  thing  move  me, 
whether  vifible  or  invifible,  that  I  may  attain  to  Chrift  Jefus.  Let 
fire  and  the  crofs — let  the  rage  of  wild  beafts — let  breaking  of 
bones  and  tearing  of  members — let  the  ftiattering  in  pieces  of  the 
whole  body — yea,  all  the  wicked  torment.^  of  the  devil  come  upon 
me — only  may  I  enjoy  JtTus  Chrift!"      [Epift.  ad  Rom.  §  5.] 

(p)  The  FOURTH  perfi'ctiiion.']  Under  this  perfecution  or  a 
little  before,  as  fome  think,  fuffered  another  difciple  of  St.  John, 
Pulycarp,  who  was  called  dodor  of  Afia  and  father  of  the  Chrif- 
tians.  When  urged  by  the  proconful  to  reproach  and  deny 
Chrift  to  procure  his  liberty,  he  only  replied,  "  Eighty  and  fix 
years  have  I  novif  ferved  Chrift,  and  he  has  never  done  me  the 
leaft  wrong;  how  then  can  I  blafphcme  my  King  and  Saviour?" 
When  the  proconful  continued,  "  I  have  wild  beafts  ready,  to 
thofe  I  will  give  thee;" — "  Call  for  them,"  replied  Polycarp, 
"  for  we  Chriftisns  are  fixed  in  our  minds,  not  to  change  from 
good  to  evil."  The  magiftrate  added,  "  If  thou  defpifeft  the 
beafts,  thou  ftialt  be  devoured  by  fire."  The  martyr  rejoined, 
"  Thuu  threatencft  me  with  fire  which  burns  but  for  a  time,  and 
is  extinguilhed ;  but  knoweft  not  the  fire  of  the  future  judge- 
ment, th-it  eternal  puniflimcnt  which  is  refcrved  for  the  ungodly. 
— Eut  v/hy  tarrieft  thou  ?  bring  forth  what  thou  wilt." 

Accordingly  this  venerable  man  being,  as  is  fuppofed,  above 
an  hundred  years  old,  was  burnt  at  a  ftake^  praifing  and  blelling 
Gcd  tor  thf  honour  of  martyrdom.  [Martyrdom  of  Polycarpy 
publifhed  by  Ufher,  Cottelcrus,  and  others.] 


4o6        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

his  hold  of  fo  great  a  part  of  the  world,  as  the  Roman 
empire  was,  of  which  he  had  had  the  quiet  pofleffion  for 
fo  many  ages :  and  tlierefore  when  he  faw  it  going  fo  faft 
out  of  his  hands,  he  beftirred  himfelf  to  his  utmoft :  all 
hell  was,  as  it  were,  raifed  to  oppofe  it  with  its  utmoft 
power. 

Satan  thus  exerting  himfelf  by  the  power  of  the  heathen 
Roman  empire,  is  called  the  great  red  dragon  in  fcripture, 
having  feven  heads  and  ten  horns,  fighting  againft  the  wo- 
man cloathed  with  the  fun.  [Rev.  xii.  3.]  And  the  terrible 
conflidl  there  was  between  the  church  of  Chiiil:,  and  the 
powers  of  the  heathen  empire  before  Conftantine's  time, 
is  there  reprefented  [ver.  7.]  by  the  war  between  Michael 
and  his  angels,  and  the  dragon  and  liis  angels :  '  And 
'  there  was  war  in  heaven ;  Michael  and  his  angels  fought, 

*  and  the  dragon  fought  and  his  angels. 

(2)  I  would  take  notice  what  fuccefs  the  gofpel  had 
in  the  world  before  the  time  of  Conftantine,  notwith- 
flanding  all  this  oppofition.— Though  the  learning  and 
power  of  the  Roman  empire  were  fo  great,  and  both  were 
employed  to  the  utmofl:  againft  Chriftianity  to  root  it 
out,  for  fo  long  a  time,  and  in  fo  many  repeated  at- 
tempts ;  yet  all  was  in  vain  :  ftill,  in  fpite  ot  all  they 
could  do,  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  wonderfully  prevail- 
ed, and  Satan's  kingdom  mouldered  and  confumed  away 
before   it,    agreeable  to  the   words   of   our  tekt :     '   The 

*  moth  flaall  eat  them   up  like  a  garment,  and  the  w;orm 

*  fliall  eat  them  like  wool.'  And  it  was  very  obfervable, 
that  for  the  moft  part,  the  more  they  perfecuted  the  church, 
the  more  it  encreafcd  :  infomuch  that  it  became  a  common 
faying,    '  The   blood  of    the  martyrs  is  the  feed  of  the 

*  church.'  Herein  the  church  of  Chrift  proved  to  belike 
a  palm  tree ;  of  which  it  is  remarked,  •  that  the  greater 
weight  is  laid  uj)on  it,  or  hung  to  its  branches,  the  more 
it  grows  and  fiourifhes :  on  which  account  probably  the 
church  is  compared  to  a  palm  tree.  [Cant.  vii.  7.]  '  This 
'  thy  ftature  is  like  to  a  palm  tree.'  J^'fi^^  Afartyr,  an 
eminent  father  in  tiie  Chriftian  church,  who  lived  in  the 
age  next  after  the  apoftles,  in  fome  writings  of  his,  which 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        407 

are  yet  extant,  fays,  that  in  his  days  there  was  no  part  of 
mankind,  whether  Greeks  or  barbarians,  or  by  what  name 
foever  they  were  called,  even  the  mofl  rude  and  unpolifh- 
ed  nations,  where  prayers  and  thankfgivings  were  not 
made  to  the  great  Creator  of  the  world,  through  the  name 
of  the  crucified  Jefus.*  "TertuUian,  another  eminent  fa- 
ther in  the  Chriftian  church,  who  lived  in  the  beginning 
of  the  following  age,  in  fome  of  his  writings  which  arc 
yet  extant, t  fets  forth,  that  in  his  day  the  Chriftian  reli- 
gion had  extended  itfelf  to  the  utmofl:  bounds  of  the  then 
known  world,  in  which  he  reckons  Britain,  the  country 
of  our  forefathers ;  and  thence  demonftrates,  that  the 
kingdom  of  Chrill:  was  then  more  extenfive  than  any 
of  the  four  great  monarchies ;  and  moreover  fays,  that 
though  the  Chriflians  were  as  ftrangers  of  no  long  {land- 
ing, yet  they  had  filled  all  places  of  the  Roman  dominions, 
their  cities,  iflands,  caftles,  corporations,  councils,  armies, 
tribes,  the  palace,  fenate,  and  courts  of  judicature  ;  only 
they  had  left  to  the  heathen  their  temples ;  and  that  if 
they  fliould  all  agree  to  retire  out  of  the  Roman  empire, 
the  world  would  be  amazed  at  the  folitude  and  defolation 
that  would  cnfue  upon  it,  there  would  be  fo  few  left ;  and 
that  the  Chriftians  were  enough  to  be  able  eafily  to  de- 
fend themfelves,  if  they  were  difpofed  to  rife  up  in  arms 
againft:  the  heathen  magifirates.  Alfo  Pliny, %  a  heathen 
who  lived  in  thofe  days,  fays,  multitudes  of  each  fex, 
every  age  and  quality,  were  become  Chriftians.  This  fu- 
perftition,  fays  he,  having  infe6led  and  over  run  not  the 
city  only,  but  towns  and  countries,  the  temples  and  fa- 
crifices  are  generally  defolate  and  forfaken.  (  q^) 

And 

*  Dial,  cum  Tyrph. 

f  Adverfus  Judseos,  cap.  7. 

:j:  Lib.  X.  Ep.  97. 

(q^)  The  JLXTZjiT  of  t.be  go/pel.]  Even  "before  the  deitruc- 
tion  of  Jerufalem,  the  gofpel  was  not  only  preached  in  the  Leffer 
Afia,  and  Greece  and  Italy,  the  great  theatres  of  adlion  then  in 
the  world  ;  but  was  likewife  propagated  as  far  northward  as  Scy- 
thia,  as  far  fouthward  as  Ethiopia,  as  far  eallward  as  Parthia  and 
India,  as  far  wellward  as  Spain  and  Britain.  Our  anceftors  of 
this  ifland  feem  to  have  lain  as  remote  from  the  fgene  of  our  Sa- 


4o8        HISTORY  OF    REDEMPTION. 

And  it  was  remarked  by  both  heathen  and  Chriftiart' 
writers  in  thofe  days,  that  the  famous  heathen  oracles  in 
their  temples,  where  princes  and  others  for  many  paft  ages 
had  been  wont  to  inquire  and  receive  anfwers  with  an 
audible  voice  from  their  gods,  which  were  indeed  anfwers 
from  the  devil;  I  fay,  thofe  oracles  were  now  filenced 
and  (truck  dumb,  and  gave  no  more  anfwers:  and  parti- 
cularly the  oracle  at  Delphos,  which  was  the  moil  famous 
heathen  oracle  in  the  whole  world,  which  both  Greeks 
and  Romans  ufed  to  confult,  began  to  ceafe  to  give  any 
anfwers,  even  from  the  birth  of  Chrift:  and  the  falfe  deity. 
who  was  worfhipped,  and  uled  to  give  anfwers  from  his 
oracle  in  that  temple,  being  once  inquired  of,  why  he 
did  not  now  give  anfwers  as  he  was  wont  to  do?  made 
this  reply,  as  feveral  heathen  hiftorians  who  lived  about 
thofe  times  relate,  "  There  is  an  Hebrew  boy,  who  is 
king  of  the  gods,  who  has  commanded  me  to  leave  this 
houfe,  and  be  gone  to  hell,  and  therefore  you  are  to  ex- 
pe£l  no  more  anfwers."  And  many  of  tlie  heathen  writers 
who  lived  about  that  time,  fpake  much  of  the  oracles 
being  filenced,  as  a  thing  at  which  they  wondered,  not 
knowing   what   the   caufe  Ihould   be.    (r)       Plutarch,    a 

heathen 

viour's  aftions  as  almoll  any  nation,  and  were  a  rou'gh,  inhofpl- 
table  people,  as  unlikely  to  receive  fo  civilized  an  inftitution  as 
any  people  whatever.  But  yet  there  is  fome  probability,  that  the 
gofpel  was  preached  here  by  St.  Simon  the  apoftle  ;  there  is  much 
greater  probability  that  it  was  preached  here  by  St.  Paul ;  and 
there  is  abfolute  certainty  that  Chriftlanity  was  planted  in  this 
country  in  the  days  of  the  apoftles,  before  the  deftrudtion  of  Je- 
rufalem  i"      [Bp.  Newton  on  the  Prophecies,  vol.  ii.  p.  237.! 

(r)  The  heathen  oracles.]  Learned  men  are  much  divided 
as  to  the  fource  of  thefe  oracles.  The  famous  Van  Dale  wrote 
a  treatife  to  prove  that  they  were  only  the  invention  of  pricfts, 
but  our  Abp.  Potter,  [Greek  Antiq.  vol.  i.  book  ii.  ch.  7.]  and 
many  others,  conceive  that  there  was  a  diabolical  agency  employed 
in  the  bufinefs.  There  arc  indeed  feveral  circumftances  leading  to 
the  former  hypothefis;  fuch  as  the  gloomy  folemnity  with  which 
many  of  them  were  delivered,  in  caves  and  fubterraneous  ca- 
verns; the  numerous  and  difagreeable  ceremonies  enjoined,  as 
fometimes  fleeping  in  the  flcins  of  bealls,  bathing,  and  expenfivc 
facrifices;  the  ambiguous  and  unfatisfactory  anfwers  frequently 

returned ; 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        409 

heathen  writer  of  thofe  times,  wrote  a  particular  trcatife 
about  it,  which  is  ft  ill  extant.*  And  Porphyry,  one  of 
the  heathen  writers  before  mentioned,  has  thefe  words  : 
"  It  is  no  wonder  if  the  city  for  thefe  fo  many  years  has 
been  over  ran  with  ficknefs ;  Efculapius,  and  the  reft  of 
the  gods,  having  withdrawn  their  converfe  with  men  :  for 
fince  Jefus  began  to  be  worftiipped,  no  man  hath  received 
any  public  help  or  benefit  by  the  gods." 

Thus  did  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  prevail  againft  the 
kingdom  of  Satan. 

(3.)  I  now  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumftances  of  tribulation  and  diftrcfs  juft  before  Con- 
ftantine  the  Great  came  to  the  throne.  This  diftrefs  they 
fufFered  under  the  tenth  perfecufion,  which  as  it  was  the 
laft,  fo  it  was  by  far  the  heavieft  and  moft  fcvere.  The 
church  before  this,  after  the  ceafing  of  the  nintii  perfecu- 
tion,  had  enjoyed  a  time  of  quietnefs  for  about  forty 
years  together ;  but,  abufing  their  liberty,  began  to  grow 
cold  and  lifelefs  in  religion,  and  contentions  prevailed 
among  them  J  by  which  they  offended  God  to  fufFcr  this 
dreadful  trial  to  come  upon  them.  And  Satan  having 
loll:  ground  fo  much,  notwithftanding  all  his  attempts, 
now  feemcd  to  beftir  himfclf  with  more  than  ordinary 
rage.  Thofe  who  were  then  in  authority  let  themfelvcs 
with  the  utmoft  violence  to  root  out  Chriftianity,  by  burn- 
ing all  Bibles,  and  deftroying  all  Chrillians  ;  and  there- 
tore  they  did  not  ftand  to  try  or  convi<5l  them  in  a  for- 
mal procefs,    but   fell  upon  them  wherever  they  could; 

2  G  fometimes 

returned  :  thefe  look  very  much  like  the  contrivances  of  artful 
pricfts  to  difguife  their  villany  ;  the  medium  of  priefts,  fpeaking 
images,  vocal  groves,  &c.  fccm  much  to  confirm  it.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  we  may  credit  the  relation  of  ancient  writers,  either 
among  the  heathens  or  Chriftians,  this  hypothefis  will  hardly  ac-- 
count  for  many  of  the  inifanccs  they  mention.  And  fince  it  can- 
not be  proved  either  impoiTible  or  unfcriptural,  is  it  not  probable 
that  God  miglit  fometimes  permit  an  intercourfe  with  infernal 
fpirits,  with  a  defign  in  the  end  to  turn  this  and  every  other  cir- 
cumllance  to  his  own  glory,  as  our  author  has  above  obfer\'ed  ? 
We  are  however  fatistied,  from  the  reafons  above  hinted,  that  the 
whole  was  often  but  a  gainful  cheat.  [G.  E.] 

*  Pint,  de  defed.  Orac. 


410        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fometimes  fetting  lire  to  lioufes  where  multitudes  of  them 
were  affembled,  and  burning  them  therein,  and  at  other 
times  flaughtering  multitudes  together :  fo  that  fometimes 
their  perfecutors  were  quite  fpent  with  the  labour  of  kill- 
ing and  tormenting  them  ;  and  in  fome  populous  places 
fo  many  wore  flain  together,  that  the  blood  ran  like  tor- 
rents. It  is  related,  that  feventeen  thoufand  martyrs  were 
flain  in  one  month's  time  ;  and  that  during  the  continuance 
of  thi?  perfecution,  in  the  province  of  Egypt  alone,  no 
lefs  than  144,000  Chriftians  died  by  the  violence  of  their 
perfecutors,  befides,  700,000  that  died  through  the  fatigues 
of  banilhment,  or  the  public  works  to  which  they  were 
condemned.* 

This  perfecution  lafted  for  ten  years  together  ;  and  as  it 
exceeded  all  foregoing  perfecutions  in  the  number  of  mar- 
tvrs,  fo  it  exceeded  them  in  the  variety  and  multitude  of 
inventions  of  torture  and  cruelty.  Some  authors  who  lived 
at  that  time,  fay,  they  were  innumerable,  and  exceeded  all 
account  and  expreflion.f 

This  perfecution  in  particular  was  very  fevere  in  Eng- 
land ;  (s)  and  this  is  that  perfecution  which  was  foretold 
[Rev.  vi.  9,  10.]  '  And  when  he  had  opened  the  fifth  feal, 
'  1  faw  under  the  altar  the  fouls  of  them  that  were  flain 
'  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  teftimony  which  they 
'  held.     And  they  cried  with  a  loud  voice,   faying.   How 

*  long, 

*  Bujfieres  in  flofculis  Hiflor. 

f  Vid.  Eiifeh.  Eccl.  Hifl.  lib.  viil.  cum  fupp.  &  Laftant.  dc 
Mort.  Perf. 

(s)  The  TENTH  perfecution  fevere  in  England.]  "  In  the 
perfecution  under  Dioclefian,  the  Br'itj/h  Chriftians  fuffered  fo 
much,  that  the  very  name  of  Chriftianity  was  loll  in   this  ifland, 

except  among  the  Cornifli  and  Welfh Our  proto -martyr 

St.  Allan,  Amphibolus,  Julian,  and  Aaron  were  martyred  at  St. 
Alban\,  then  called  F'erulam,  The  priefts  who  wrote  of  St.  Al- 
ban's  martyrdom,  could  not  be  content  with  the  courage,  patience 
and  piety  of  the  martyr,  but  have  corrupted  his  hiftory  with  lies  : 
even  venerable  Bedc  cannot  help  telling  us,  that  he  dried  up  a 
river  as  he  went  to  the  place  of  execution,  ....  that  his  head 
fpoke  after  it  was  cut  off,  &c."  [Critical  Hiftory  of  England, 
Tol.  i,  p.  64.3 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        411 

*  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  doft  thou  not  judge  and 
<  avenge  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?'* 

At  the  end  of  the  ten  years  during  which  this  perfecu- 
tion  continued,  the  heathen  perfecutors  thought  they  had 
finilhed  their  work,  and  boafted  that  they  had  utterly  de- 
ftroyed  the  name  and  fuperftition  of  the  Chriftians,  and 
propagated  the  worfhip  of  the  gods,  (t) 

Thus  it  was  the  darkeft  time  with  the  Chriftian  church 
jufl:  before  the  break  of  day.  They  were  brought  to  the 
greatell:  extremity  juft  before  God  appeared  for  their  glo- 
rious deliverance  ;  as  the  bondage  of  the  Ifraelites  in  Egypt 
was  the  mofl:  fevere  and  cruel  juft  before  their  deliverance 
by  the  hand  of  Mofcs.  Their  enemies  thought  they  had 
fwallowed  them  up  juft  before  their  dcftrucTtion,  as  it  was 
with  Pharaoh  and  his  holt  when  they  had  hemmed  in  the 
children  of  Ifrael  at  the  Red  Sea. 

(4.)  I  come  now,  in  the  fourth  place,  to  the  great  re- 
volution which  was  in  the  world  in  the  days  of  Con- 
ftantine,  which  was  in  many  refpedVs  like  Chrift's  ap- 
pearing in  the  clouds  of  heaven  to  fave  his  people,  and 
judge  the  world.  The  people  of  Rome  being  weary  ot 
the  government  of  thofe  tyrants  to  whom  they  had  lately 
been  fubjed:,  fent  to  Conftantine,  who  was  then  in  the 
city  of  York  in  England,  to  come  and  take  the  throne. 
And  he  being  encouraged,  as  is  faid,  by  a  vilion  of  a  pil- 
lar of  light  in  the  heavens,  in  the  form  of  a  crofs,  in  the 
iight  of  his  whole  army,  with  this  infcription,  By  this 
conquer  \  and  the  night  following,  by  Chrift's  appearino- 
to  liim  in  a  dream  with  the  fame  crofs  in  his  hand,  who 
direded  him  to  make  a  crofs  like  that  to  be  his  royal 
ftandard,  thac  liis  army  might  fight  under  that  banner, 
3  G  2  and 

*  See  Bp.  Neivion  on  the  Prophecies,  vol.  iii.  p.  6^. 

(t)  The  heathens  boajled  having  destroyed  Chrf/Iianiiy.']  A 
column  is  faid  to  be  ftill  remaining  at  C/uny  in  Spain  with  this  in- 
fcription— '^To  Dioehfuin,  Jovius,  and  Afaximinus,  Cjefars,  for 
having  enlarged  the  bounds  of  the  empire,  and  for  having  exter- 
minated the  name  of  Christians,  thofc  dillurbers  of  the  public 
repofe.'"  [Griiteri  corpus  Infcript.  torn.  i.  p.  280.I — And  yet, 
(infolent  blafphemers  ! )  the  name  of  Clirijl  is  ilill  adored  by  mil- 
lions  ;  but  for  Jupiter,  Mars,  Apollo,  &c.  where  are  they  ? 

[I.  N.] 


412        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

and  affured  hi:n  that  he  fliould  ovevcome.  (u)  Accord- 
ingly he  did,  and  overcame  his  enemies,  took  poffeffion 
of  the  imperial  throne,  embraced  the  Chriftian  religion, 
and  was  the  firft  Chriftian  emperor  that  ever  reigned  :  he 
came  to  the  throne  about  320  years  after  Chrift.  There 
are  feveral  things  which  I  would  take  notice  of  which 
attended  or  immediately  followed  Conftantine's  coming  to 
the  throne. 

[i.]  The  Chriftian  church  was  thereby  wholly  deli- 
vered from  perlecution.  Now  the  day  of  her  deliverance 
came  after  fuch  a  dark  night  of  affliilion  ;  weeping  had 
continued  for  a  night,  but  now  deliverance  and  joy  came 
in  the  morning.  Now  God  appeared  to  judge  his  people 
and  repented  himfelf  for  his  fervants,  when  he  faw  their 
power  was  gone,  and  that  there  was  none  ftmt  up  or  left. 
Chriftians  had  no  pcrfecutions  now  to  fear.  Their  pev-r 
fecurors  now  were  all  put  down,  and  their  rulers  were  fome 
of  them  Chriftians  like  themfelves. 

[2.]  God  now  appeared  to  execute  terrible  judgments 
on  their  enemies.  Remarkable  are  the  accounts  which 
hiftory  gives  us  of  the  fearful  ends  to  which  the  heathen 
emperors,  princes,  generals,  captains,  and  other  great  men 
came,  v/ho  had  exerted  themfelves  in  perfecuting  the  Chrif- 
tians ;  dying  miferably,  one  after  another,  under  exquifite 
torments  of  the  body,  and  horrors  of  confcience  ;  with  a 
moft  vifible  hand  of  God  upon  them.*  So  that  what  now 
came  to  pafs  might  very  fitly  be  compared  to  their  hiding 
themfelves  in  the  dens  and  rocks  of  the  mountains.  [Rev. 
vi.  15,  17.] 

[3.]  Heathenifm  now  was  in  a  great  meafure  aboliftied 
throughout  the  Roman  empire.  Images  were  now  de- 
ftroyed,  and  heatlien  temples  pulled  down.  Images  of 
gold  and  filver  were  melted  down,  and  coined  into  money. 

Some 

(u)  Corjlaniinr^s  vision.]  Whatever  fabulous  eircumflances 
may  have  been  added  to  this  ftory,  or  abfurd  inferences  drawn 
from  it,  it  (hould  feem  there  was  fome  ♦truth  in  it,  fince  Euftbm 
[de  Vita  Conltant.  lib.  i.  cap.  27 — 31.]  affures  us,  that  he  had  it 
from  the  emperor's  own  mouth.      [See  Univerfal  Hijlory,  vol.  xv. 

P-  ^^^'-^  >    r  ,    TVT         n    r 

*  Latta.'.i.  de  Mort.  Perf 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        413 

Some  of  the  chief  of  their  idols,  which  were  curioufly 
wrought,  were  brought  toConflantinoplc,  and  there  drawn 
with  ropes  up  and  down  the  ftreets  for  the  people  to  behold 
and  laugh  at.  The  heathen  priefts  were  difpcrfed  and 
baniihed. 

[4.]  The  Chriflian  church  was  brought  into  a  ftate  of 
great  peace  and  profperity.  Now  all  heathen  magirtratcs 
were  put  down,  and  only  Chriflians  were  advanced  to 
places  of  authority  all  over  the  empire.  They  had  now 
Chriftian  prefidents,  Chriftian  governors,  Chriftian  judges 
and  officers,  inftcad  of  their  old  heathenifh  ones.  Con- 
rtantine  fet  himfelf  to  honour  the  Chriftian  bifhops  or  aii- 
nifters,  and  to  build  and  adorn  churches  ;  and  now  large 
and  beautiful  Chriftian  churches  were  eredted  in  all  parts 
of  the  world,  inftead  of  the  old  heathen  temples. 

This  was  the  greateft  revolution  in  the  face  of  things 
that  ever  came  to  pafs  fince  the  flood.  Satan,  the  prince 
of  darknefs,  that  king  and  god  of  the  heathen  world,  was 
caft  out.  The  roaring  lion  was  conquered  by  the  lamb  of 
God,  in  the  ftrongeft  dominion  that  ever  he  had,  even  the 
Roman  empire.  This  was  a  remarkable  accompliflimeni 
of  that  prophecy,  [Jcr.  x.  11.]  *  The  gods  that  have  nol 

*  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  even  they  fhall  perilh 
'  from  the  earth,  and  from  under  thefe  heavens.'  The 
chief  part  of  the  world  was  now  brought  utterly  to  caft 
off  their  old  gods  and  their  old  religion,  to  which  they 
had  been  accuftomed  much  longer  than  any  of  their  hif- 
torics  gives  an  account  of;  fo  long  that  they  could  not 
trace  the  beginning  ot  it.  It  was  formerly  fpoken  of  as 
a  thing  xmknown  for  a  nation  to  change  their  gods,  [  Jer. 
ii.  10,  II.]  but  now  the  greater  parts  of  the  nations  of 
the  known  world  were  brought  to  caft  off  all  their  former 
gods.  Thoufands  of  them  were  caft  away  for  the  wor- 
fhip  of  the  true  God,  and  Chrift  the  only  Saviour :  and 
chere  was  a  moft  remarkable  fulhlment  of  that  promife, 
[Ifa.  ii.  17,  18.]   '  And  the  loftincfs  of  man  fhall  be  bowed 

•  down,  and  the  haughtinefs  of  men  ftiail  be  made  low  : 
'  and  the  Lord  alone  ftiall  be  exalted  in  that  day.  And 
'  the  idols  he  ihall  utterly  abolilh.'     And  fmcc  that,  it 

ha<j 


414-        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

has  Gome  to  pafs,  that  thofe  gods  that  were  once  fo  famous 
in  the  world,  as  Jupiter,  and  Saturn,  and  Minerva,  and 
Juno,  &:c.  are  only  heard  of  as  things  which  were  of  old  : 
they  have  no  temples,  no  altars,  no  worlhippers,  and  have 
not  had  for  many  hundred  years. 

Now  is  come  the  end  of  the  old  heathen  world  in  the 
principal  part  of  it,  the  Roman  empire.  And  this  great 
revolution  and  change  of  the  ftate  of  the  world,  with 
that  terrible  deftruction  of  the  great  men  who  had  been 
perfecutors,  is  compared,  [Rev.  vi.]  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  and  Chrift  coming  to  judgment ;  and  is  what  is 
moft  immediately  fignified  under  the  fixth  feal,  which 
followed  upon  the  fouls  under  the  altar  crying,  '  How 
'  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  dofi:  thou  not  avenge  our 

*  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?'  This  vifion  of 
the  fixth  feal,  by  the  general  confent  of  divines  and  expo- 
fitors,  has  refpeft  to  this  downfal  of  the  heathen  Roman 
empire  ;  though  it  may  have  a  more  remote  refpe6l  to  the 
day  of  judgment,  but  that  cannot  be  what  is  immediately 
intended  ;  becaufe  we  have  an  account  of  many  events 
which  were  to  come  to  pafs  afterwards,  yet  before  the  end 
of  the  world. 

This  revolution  is  alfo  reprcfented  by  the  devil's  being 
cad  out  of  heaven  to  the  earth.  In  his  great  flrength  and 
glory,  in  that  mighty  Roman  empire,  he  had  as  it  were 
exalted  his  throne  up  to  heaven.  But  now  he  fell  like 
lightning  from  heaven,  and  was  confined  to  the  earth. 
His  kingdom  was  confined  to  the  meaner  and  more  bar.^ 
barous  nations,  or  to  the  lower  parrs  of  the  world  of 
mankind.  [Rev.  xii.  9,  ^cc]  '  And  the  great  dragon 
'  was  caft  out,  that  old  ferpent,  called  the  devil  and  Satan, 
'  which  deceiveth  the  whole  world :  he  was  caft  out  into 
'  the  earth,  and  his  angels  were  caft  out  with  him,'  &c. 
Satan  tempted  Chrift,  and  promifed  to  give  him  the  glory 
of  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  ;  but  now  he  is  obliged  to 
give  it  to  him  even  againft  his  wilL  This  was  a  glorious 
fulfilment  of  that  prornife  which  Qod  made  to  his  Son. 
[Ifa.   liii.    12.]  *  Tiierefore  will   I   divide  him  a  portion 

*  with  the  great,  and  he  fhail  divide  the  fpoil  with  the 

'  ftrong  ; 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        415 

'  flrong  ;  becaufe  he  hath  poured  out  his  foul  unto  death  ; 
<  and  he  was   numbered    with    the  tranfgreffois,  and  he 

*  bare    the   fin   of  many,    and    made  interceflion  for  the 

*  tranfgrefibrs.'  This  was  a  great  fulfihrient  of  the  pro- 
phecies of  the  Old  Teftament  concerning  the  glorious 
time  of  the  gofpel,  and  particularly  of  the  prophecies  of 
Daniel.  Now  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  come  in  a  glo- 
rious degree.  It  pleafed  the  Lord  God  of  heaven  to  fet 
up  a  kingdom  on  the  ruins  of  that  of  Satan.  And  fuch 
fuccefs  is  there  of  the  purchafc  of  Chrift's  redemption, 
and  fuch  honour  does  the  Father  put  upon  Chrift  for  the 
difgrace  he  fuffered  when  on  earth.  And  now  fee  to  what 
a  height  that  glorious  building  is  raifed,  which  had  been 
ere6liug  ever  fince  the  fall. 


INFERENCE. 


From  what  has  been  faid  of  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel 
from  Chrift's  afcenfion  to  the  time  of  Conftantine,  we 
may  deduce  a  ftrong  argument  of  the  truth  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  religion,  and  that  the  gofpel  of  Jefus  Chrift  is  really 
from  God.  This  wonderful  fuccefs  which  has  been  fpo- 
ken  of,  and  the  circurnftances  of  it  which  have  been  men- 
tioned, are  a  ftrong  argument  of  it  feveral  ways. 

(i.)  We  may  obferve  that  it  is  the  gofpel,  and  that 
only,  which  has  actually  been  the  means  of  bringing  the 
world  to  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God.  That  thofe 
are  no  gods  whom  the  heathen  worftiipped,  and  that  there 
is  but  one  only  God,  is  what,  now  fmce  the  gofpel  has 
fo  taught  us,  we  can  fee  »o  be  truth  by  our  own  reafon . 
it  is  plainly  agreeable  to  the  light  of  nature  ;  it  can  be 
eaftly  ftiown  by  reafon  to  be  denionftrably  true.  The 
very  Deifts  themfelves  acknowledge  that  it  can  be  demon- 
ftrated,  that  there  is  one  God,  and  but  one,  who  has 
made  and  governs  the  world.  But  now  it  is  evident  that 
it  is  the  golpel,  and  that  only,  which  has  a6lually  been 
the  means  of  bringing  men  to  the  knowledge  of  this  truth; 

it 


4i6        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

it  was  not  the  inftru£trons  of  philofophers.  They  tried  irt 
vain:  '  The  world  by  wifdom  knew  not  God.'  [i  Cor; 
i.  21.]  Till  the  gofpel  and  the  holy  fcriptures  came 
abroad  in  the  world,  all  the  world  lay  in  ignorance  of  the 
true  God,  and  in  the  greateft  darknefs  with  refpeft  to 
the  things  of  religion,  embracing  the  abfurdeft  opinions 
and  pradtices,  by  all  civilized  nations  now  acknowledged 
to  be  childifh  fooleries.  And  fo  they  lay  one  age  after 
another,  and  nothing  proved  etfeclual  to  enlighten  them. 
The  light  of  nature,  and  their  own  reafon,  and  all  the 
wifdom  of  learned  men,  availed  nothing;  but  the  fcrip- 
tures brought  the  world  to  an  acknowledgement  of  the  one 
only  true  God,  and  to  worihip  and  ferve  him. 

And  hence  it  was,  that  all  who  now  own  the  one 
true  God,  Chriflians,  Jews,  Mahometans,  and  even  De- 
ifts,  originally  came  by  the  knowledge  of  liim.  It  is 
owing  to  this  that  they  are  not  in  general  at  this  day  left 
in  heathenifli  darknefs.  They  have  it  either  immediately 
from  the  fcriptures,  or  by  tradition  from  their  fathers, 
who  had  it  at  firfl  therefrom.  Doubtlefs  thofe  who  now 
defpife  the  fcriptures,  and  boaft  of  the  ftrength  of  their 
own  reafon,  as  being  fufficient  to  lead  them  to  the  know- 
iedo-e  of  the  one  true  God,  if  the  gofpel  had  never  come 
abroad  in  the  world  to  enlighten  their  forefathers,  would 
have  been  as  brutifli  idolaters  as  the  world  in  general 
was  before  the  gofpel  came  abroad.  The  Mahometans, 
who  own  but  one  true  God,  at  firfl;  borrowed  the  notion 
froni  the  Bible  ;  for  the  firfl:  Mahometans  had  been  edu- 
cated in  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  apoftatized  from  it. 
---And  this  fhevvs,  that  the  fcriptures  were  defigned  of 
God  to  be  the  means  to  bring  the  world  to  the  know- 
Irdo-e  of  himfelf,  rather  than  human  reafon,  or  any 
thing  elfc.  For  it  is  tmrcafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  the 
gofpel,  and  that  only,  which  God  never  defigned  to  this 
end,  fhould  a6:ually  efFed  it,  and  that  after  human  rea- 
fon, which  he  defigned  as  the  proper  mean,  had  been 
tried  for  a  great  many  ages  in  vain'.— If  the  fcriptures  be 
not  the  word  of  God,  then  they  are  the  greatefl  delufion 
fhat    <°vcr  was.      Now,  is   it   reafonable    to   fuppofe,   that 

God 


TO  THE  REIGN  OF  CONSTANTINE.        417 

God  in  his  providence  would  make  ufe  of  falfehood  and 
delufion,  and  thit  only,  to  bring  the  world  to  the  know- 
ledge of  hiinfelf  ? 

(2.)  The  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  againft  fuch  powerful 
oppofition  plainly  fliowsthe  hand  of  God.  The  Roman 
government,  which  fo  violently  fet  itfelf  to  hinder  the 
fuccefs  of  the  gofpel,  and  to  fubdue  the  church  of  Chrift, 
was  the  molt  powerful  human  government  that  evei-  ex- 
ited ;  and  they  feemed  to  have  the  church  in  their  hands. 
The  Chriflians  were  moftly  their  fubjeds,  and  never  took 
up  arms  to  ftand  in  their  own  defence;  they  armed  them-- 
felves  with  nothing  but  patience,  and  fuch  like  fpiritual 
weapons:  and  yet  this  mighty  power  could  not  conquer 
them  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  Chriftianity  conquered  that. 
1  he  Romans  had  fubdued  many  mighty  and  potent  kino-. 
doms;  they  fubdued  the  Grecian  monarchy,  when  th^y 
were  not  their  fubjeds,  and  made  the  utmoft  refiftance'; 
and  yet  they  could  not  conquer  the  church  which  was  in 
their  hands ;  but  on  the  contrary,  were  hnaily  triumphed 
over  by  it. 

(3O   No  other  fufficient  caufe  can  pofflbly  be  affigneJ 
of  this  propagation  of  the  gofpel,  but  God's  own  power 
Here  was  a  great  and  wonderful  efFed,  the  moft  remarka- 
ble change  that  ever  was  in  the  face  of  the  world  of  man- 
kmd  hnce   the   flood  ;    and  this   eiiea   was   not  without 
lome  caufe.     Now,  what  other  caufe  can  be  devifed  but 
only  the  divine  power  r    It  was  not  the  outward  flrength 
of  the  inftruments  which  were  employed  in  it.     At  hrft 
the   gofpel  was  preached  only  by  a  few  fiHicrmen,  who 
were  without  power  and  worldly  intereft  to  fupport  them. 
It   was  not  their  craft  and  policV  that  produced  this  won- 
derful effect:    for  they  were  but  poor  illiterate  men.     It 
was  not  the  agreeablenefs  of   tlie  ftoi  y  they  had  to  tell  to 
the  notions  and   principles  of    mankind.       This   was    no 
pleafant  table  :     A  crucified   God  and   Saviour  was  to  the 
Jews  a  Humbling   block,    and  to  the  Greeks  foolilhnefs. 
It  was   not  the  agreeablenefs  of  their  dodrines  to  men's 
difpofitions ;    for  nothing  is  more  contrary  to  the  corrup- 
tions of  men  than  the  pure  dodrines  of  the  gofpel.     This 

3  H  ^  cffea 


4i8        HIS.TORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

effecSi:  therefore  can  have  proceeded  from  no  other  caufe 
than  the  power  and  agency  of  God :  and  if  the  power  of 
God  was  what  was  exerciled  to  caufe  the  G^ofpel  to  prevail, 
then  the  gofpel  is  his  word :  for  furely  God  does  not  ufc 
liis  ahnighty  power  to  promote  animpoflure  and  delufion. 

(4.)  This  fuccefs  is  agreeable  to  what  Chrift  and  his 
apoftles  foretold.— -[Matt.  xvi.  18  ]  '  Upon  this  rock 
'  will  I  build  ray  church;  and  the  gates  of  hell  fliall  not 

*  prevail  againll  it.'  [John  xii.  24.]  '  Verily,  verily  I 
'  fay  unto  you,  Except  a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the 
'  ground,  and  die,  it  abideth  alone:   but  if  it  die,  it  bring- 

*  eth  forth  much  fruit.'  [ver.  31,  32.]  '  Now^  is  thejudg- 
'  ment  of  this  world:  now  fhall  the  prince  of  this  world 
'  be  caft  out.      And   T,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 

*  will  draw  all  men  unto  me.'  [John  xvi.  8.]  '  When 
'  he    (the  comforter)    is  come,  he  will  reprove  the  world 

*  of  fm,  of  righteoufnefs,  and  of  judgment,— becaufe  the 
'  prince  of  this  world  is  judged.' 

So  the  apoftle  Paul  [i  Cor.  i.  21—28.]  declares,  that 
after  the  world  by  wifdom  knew  not  God,  '  It  pleafed 
'  God  by  the   fo:lifhnefs  of  preaching,  to  fave  them  that 

*  believe  ;'  and  that  God  chofe  the  foolifli  things  of  the 
world  to  confound  the  wife  ;  and  weak  things  of  the 
world  to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty  ;  and  bafe 
things,  yea  and  things  that  are  not,  to  bring  to  nought 
things  that  are. —  If  any  man  foretells  a  thing,  very  like- 
ly in  itfelf  to  come  to  pafs,  from  caufes  which  can  be 
forefeen,  it  is  no  argument  of  a  revelation  from  God: 
but  when  a  thing  is  foretold  which  is  very  unlikely  ever 
to  come  to  pafs,  which  is  entirely  contrary  to  the  common 
courfe  of  things,  yet  it  comes  to  pafs  juft  as  foretold,  this 
is  a  ftrong  argument  that  the  predi6lion  was  from  God. 

Thus  the  confideration  of  the  manner  of  the  propaga- 
tion and  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  during  the  time  which  has 
been  Ipokcn  of,  affords  great  evidence  that  the  fcriptures 
are  the  word  of  God. 

3.  1  am  now  to  iliow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  re- 
demption is  carried  on   from  the  time  of  the  overthrow  of 

the 


TO   THE   FALL   OF  ANTICHRIST.       419 

ihc  Ixeathen  Roman  empire  by  Conflantine  the  Greaf,  tiU 
the  /all  of  antichrift,  and  the  deftru'flion  of  Satan's  vili-. 
ble  kingdom  on  earth,  which  is  the  third  great  difpenfa- 
tion  that  is  in  fcripture  compared  to  Chrilt's  coming  to 
judgment.  This  is  a  period  wherein  is  contained  ma- 
ny wonderful  providences  towards  the  Chriftian  church. 
The  greater  part  of  the  book  of  the  Revelation  is  taken 
up  in  predicting  the  events  of  this  period. 

The  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  of  redemption  in  this 
period  appears  chiefly  at  the  clofe  of  it,  when  Antichrift 
comes  to  fall,  when  there  will  be  a  far  more  glorious 
fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  than  ever  yet  has  been :  and  the  feries 
of  events  preceding,  feems  to  be  only  to  prepare  the  wav 
for  it.  And  in  order  to  a  more  clear  view  of  this  period. 
I  fliall  fubdivide  it  into  thefc  four  parts:  from  the  de- 
ftrudtion  of  the  heathen  empire  to  the  rife  of  antichrift  ; 
from  the  rife  of  antichrift  to  the  reformation  in  Luther's 
time ;  from  thence  to  the  prefent  time  ;  from  the  prefent 
time,  till  the  fall  of  antichrift.  But  under  this  head  T 
ihall  confiuer  only  the  former,  reaching  from  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  the  heathen  empire  to  the  rife  of  antichrift.  And 
here,  (i.)  T  would  take  notice  of  the  oppofition  Satan 
made  in  this  fpace  of  time  to  tlie  church  :  and,  (2.)  The 
fuccefs  that  the  gofpel  had  in  it. 

(i.)  The  oppojitton.  Satan  being  caft  out  of  his  old 
heathen  empire,  the  great  red  dragon  after  fo  fore  a  cou- 
fli6l  with  Michael  and  his  angels  for  the  greater  part  of 
three  hundred  years,  being  at  laft  entirely  routed  and 
vanquiflied,  fo  that  no  place  was  found  any  more  in 
heaven  for  him,  but  he  was  caft  down,  as  it  were,  from 
heaven  to  earth  ;  yet  does  not  give  over  his  oppofition  to 
the  woman,  the  church  of  Chrift,  concerning  which  all 
this  conflift  had  been.  But  he  is  ftill  in  a  great  rage, 
renews  his  attempts,  and  has  recourfe  to  frelh  devices 
againft  the  church.  The  ferpent,  after  he  is  caft  out  of 
heaven  to  the  earth,  cafts  out  of  his  mouth  water  as  a 
flood,  to  caufe  the  woman  to  be  carried  away  of  the  flood. 
[Rev.  xii.  15.]  The  oppofition  that  he  made  to  the 
church  of    Chrift  before  the  rife  of  antichrift,  was  prin- 

3  H  2  cipally 


420        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

clpally  of  two  forts.  It  was  either  by  corrupting  the 
church  of  Chrift  with  herefies,  or  by  new  endeavours  to 
reftorePaganifm.oi^}  odi  :; 

[i.]  I  would  obferve,  that  after  the  deftrudtion  of  the 
heathen  Roman -empire,  Satan  infefted  the  church  with 
herefies:  Though  there  had  been  fo  glorious  a  work  of 
God  in  delivering  the  church  from  her  heathen  perfe- 
cutors,  and  overthrowing  the  heathen  empire  ;  yet  the 
days  of  the  church's  travail  were  not  ended  ;  and  tlie  fet 
time  of  her  profperity  which  the  church  enjoyed  in  Con- 
llantine's  time,  was  but  very  fliort :  it  was  a  refpite,  which 
gave  the  church  a  time  of  peace  and  filence,  as  it  were, 
for  half  an  hour,  wherein  the  four  angels  held  the  foui- 
winds  from  blowing,  till  the  fervants  of  God  (liould  be 
lealcd  in  their  foreheads.  [Rev.  viii.  r.]  Butthe  church 
loon  began  to  be  greatly  infe (led  with  herefies;  the  two 
principal,  and  thofe  that  did  moft  infcfi:  the  church,  were 
the  Arian  and  Pelagian  herefies.  :  .-^rmj 

The  Ariaiis  began  foon  after  Conftantine  came  to  the' 
throne.  They  denied  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  and 
the  divinity  of  Chrift  and  the  Ho^y  Ghort,  and  maintain- 
ed, that  tliey  were  but  mere  creatures,  (x)  This  herefy 
increafed  more  and  more  in  the  church,  and  prevailed 
like  a  flood,  which  threatened  to  overthrow  all,  and 
entirely  to  carry   away  the  church,  infomucb  tliat  before 

that 

(x)  T/je  Arian s.]  Thefe  were  fo  called  from  Jlrlns,  a  pried 
of  the  church  of  Alexandria,  and  a  native  of  Lybia :  afterwards 
they  were  fplit  into  a  great  number  of  fefts,  partly  from  the  de- 
gree of  refinement  in  which  the  notions  of  Arlus  were  received  ; 
fome  approaching  very  near  the  language  of  the  orthodox,  as  they 
were  called,  and  others  degrading  the  Son  of  God  far  more  than 
Arius  had  done:  and  partly  from  other  ftrange  and  erroneous  opi- 
nions added  to  his ;  commonly  however,  they  bore  the  name  of 
fome  favourite  leader,  as  the  Photiniaus,  Ntjlorlansy  Eutychians , 
T'lmotheanSf  Sec.  The  grand  champion  of  the  orthodox  was 
yithannfius,  who  would  have  better  defended  their  caufe,  had  he 
adhered  to  the  fimplicity  of  fcrlpture  and  not  fi'ttercd  Chriflianity 
with  his  own  additions  and  refinements.'  To  him  we  are  indebted 
for  the  Alhanafion  Creed,  though  few  liberal  minds  think  highly  of 
the  obligation,  and  fewer  can  endure  the  curfes  he  has  introduced 
into  the  religious  worfliip  of  the  greater  part  of  Chriftendom. 

[G.  E.] 


ro   THE    FALL  OF    ANTICHRIST.       421 

thnt  age  Was  out,  (hat  is,  before  the  end  of  the  fourth 
ccnturv,  the  greater  part  of  the  Chriftian  church  were 
become  Arians.  There  were  fo!iie  emperors,  the  fuc- 
ceflbrs  of  Conftantine,  who  were  Arians  ;*  fo  that  the 
Arians  being  the  prevailing  party,  and  having  the  civil  au- 
thority on  their  fide,  raifed  a  great  perfecution  againfl:  the 
true  church  of  Chrifl: ;  fo  that  this  herefy  might  well  be 
compared  to  a  flood  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  fcrpent,  which 
threatened  to  carry  away  the  woman. 

The  Pelagirai  herefy  arofe  in  the  beginning  of  the  next 
century.  It  began  by  one  Pelagius,  who  was  born  in 
Britain  :  his  Bririlll  name  was  Morgan.  He  denied  ori- 
ginal lln,  and  the  influence  of  tiie  Spirit  of  God  in  con- 
verfion,  and  held  the  power  of  free  will,  and  many  other 
things  of  like  tendency:  and  this  herefy  for  a  while  great- 
ly infefled  the  church.  Pelagius's  principal  antagonift, 
who  wrote  in  defence  of  tlic  orthodox  faich,  was  St.  Au- 
guftin.  (v) 

[2.]  The  other  kind  of  oppofuion  which  Satan  made 
againfl:  the  church,  was  in  his  endeavours  to  refl:orc  Pa- 
ganifm.  And;  his  firft  attempt  to  refl:orc  it  in  the  Roman 
empire,  was  by  Julian  the  apofl:ate.  Julian  was  nephew 
to  Conftantinc  the  Great.  When  Conftantine  died  he 
loft  his  empire  to  his  three  ions  :  and  when  thev  were 
dead,  Julian  reigned  in  their  flead.  He  had  been  a  pro 
feflTed  Chriflian;.  but  he  fell  from  ChriAianity,  and  turn- 
ed Pagan  ;  and  therefore  is  called  the  apoAate.  When 
he  came  to  the  throne,  he  ufed  his  utrnofl   endeavours  to 

over- 

*  Conflantius  Valeus,  &c.   See  Dupin's  Ecclef.  Hift.  Cent.  iv. 

(y)  Pelagianism.]  Pdagius  was  very  raucli  aflifted  by  Cekf- 
tins,  a  much  more  fiibtil  and  ingeniiis  man.  In  Britain  this  fyi- 
tcm  was  fupported  not  by  the  authors  of  it,  but  by  y^pricola,  a  dil- 
ciple  of  Pelagius ;  this  produced,  as  ufual,  an  excommunication; 
for  the  ccclefiailical  furgeons  of  thofe  days  feem  to  have  under- 
itood  no  part  of  their  bufinefs  fo  well  as  amputation.  Our  au- 
thor has  obferved,  that  the  principal  antagoniil  of"  Pelagius  was  St. 
jiugiiftin.  This  eminent  father  was  brought  up  a  Manichean, 
but  converted  by  the  preaching  of  St.  ylmbrofe,  and  the  reading  of 
St.  Paul's  EpilUes.  His  works  which  are  in  Latin,  make  ten  folio 
volumes,  the  lad  of  which  contains  his  numerous  writing's  againlb 
the  Pelagians.  "[G.  E.] 


43a        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

overthrow  the  Chriftian  church,  and  fet  up  Paganifm 
again  in  the  empire.  He  put  down  the  Chriftian  Magif- 
tratcs,  and  placed  heathens  in  their  room;  he  rebuilt  the 
heathen  temples,  and  became  a  moft  notorious  perfecutor 
of  the  Chriftians,  and,  as  is  thought,  againft  his  own 
light :  he  ufed  to  call  Chrifl,  by  way  of  reproach,  the 
Galilean.  He  was  killed  with  a  lance  in  his  wars  with 
the  Perfians.  When  he  faw  that  he  was  mortally  wound- 
ed, he  took  a  handful  of  his  blood,  and  threw  it  up  to- 
wards heaven,  crying  out,  "  O  Galilean,  thou  haft  con- 
<j[uered."  (z)  And  he  is  commonly  thought  by  divines  to 
have  committed  the  unpardonable  fin.  (a) 

Another  way  that  Satan  attempted  to  reflrore  Paganifm 
in  the  Roman  empire,  was  by  the  invafions  and  conqueft 
of  heathen  nations.  For  in  this  period  the  Goths  and 
Vandals,  and  other  heathen  barbarous  nations  that  dwelt 
in  the  north  of  the  Roman  empire,  invaded  it,  and  ob- 
tained great  conquefts,  and  even  over-ran  the  empire  ;  in 
the  fifth  century  they  took  the  city  of  Rome,  and  finally 
fubdued  and  took  poflellion  of  the  M^eftern  empire,  as  it 
was  called,  and  divided  it  into  ten  kingdoms,  which  were 
the  ten  horns  of  the  beaft  ;  for  we  are  told,  that  the  ten 
horns  are  ten  kings,    who  fhould  rife  in  the  latter  part  of 

the 

(z)  '^VL\kVi  the  ^pojlnie.']  Among  the  inftances  ©f  Julian's  op- 
pofition  to  Chriftianity,  hiftorians  mention  his  attempt  to  rebuild 
Jcrufalem  and  reftore  Judaifm,  which  was  miraculoufly  defeated, 
fubterraneous  fire  repeatedly  confuming  both  the  work  and  work- 
men. This  is  acknowledged  by  his  biographer  ylnnnianus  Mar- 
ceUlnns,  [Lib.  xxiii.  cap.  4.]  who  however  fays  nothing,  though 
prefent  at  the  time,  of  his  blafphemous  exclamation  when  mortally 
wounded,  as  above  related;  but  greatly  applauds  the  compofure, 
fortitude,  and  refignation  with  which  he  died.  This  therefore  refts 
on  Chriftian  authority  ;  as  that  of  TheoJoret,  [Lib.  iii.  cap.  20.] 
and  Sotomen,  [Lib.  vi.  cap.  2.  J  whether  therefore  it  was  dcfignedly 
omitted  by  the  heathen,  or  invented  by  Chriftian  hiftorians,  has 
been  doubted.      [See  Univ.  Hift.  vol.  xvi.  p.  267.]  [G.  E.] 

(  A )  The  UNPARDONABLE  Sin.']  That  is,  the^/7  againft  the  Holy 
Ghojl ;  [Matt.  xii.  21,  22.]  This  is  fuppofed  to  be  a  compli(?atIon 
of  knowledge  and  inveterate  malice  ;  h^d  Peter  denied  his  mafter 
with  the  malicious  heart  of  Saul  the  perfecutor — or  Saul  perfecut- 
ed  Jefus  with  the  light  that  Peter  poffelfed — either  would  have 
committed  this  fin.  [N.  U.] 


TO   THE    FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.      423 

the  Roman  empire:  (b)  thefe  are  alfp  reprefcnted  by 
the  ten  toes  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  image.  The  inva- 
fion  and  conqueft  of  the  heathen  nations  are  fuppofcd  to 
be  foretold  in  the  viiith  chapter  of  Revelation,  in  what 
came  to  pafs  under  the  founding  of  the  four  firft  trumpets. 
(c)  Now  thefe  nations  were  chiefly  heathens;  and  by 
their  means  heathenifm  was  again  for  a  while  in  part  re- 
ftored  after  it  had  been  overthrown. 

(2.)  I  proceed  to  fhow  what  fuccefs  there  was  of  the 
gofpel  in  this  fpace,  notwithflanding  thisoppofition. 

[i.]  I  obferve,  that  the  oppofition  of  Satan  was  baf- 
fled. Though  the  dragon  caft  out  of  his  mouth  fuch  a 
ftood  after  the  woman  to  carry  her  away,  yet  he  could 
not  obtain  his  defign ;  but  the  earth  helped  the  woman, 
and  opened  her  mouth  and  fwallowed  up  tlic  flood  which 

the 

(b)  Ten  hems  of  the  heaji.^  Sir  If.  Newton  reckons  them  thus  : 
I.  The  Vandals  and  Alans  in  Spain  and  Africa  ;  2.  The  Suevians 
in  Spain  ;  3.  The  Vifigoths  ;  4.  The  Allans  in  Gallia  ;  5.  The  Bur- 
gundians;  6.  The  Franks;  7.  The  Britons;  8.  The  Hunns;  9.  The 
Lombards;  10.  The  kindom  of  Ravenna.  Mr.  Mede  and  other  wri- 
ters differ  a  little  in  the  names  of  thefe  kingdoms,  according  to  the 
date  at  which  they  reckon  them;  but  all,  even  Machlavel,  [See  Bp. 
C/'fl«^/rr's  Vindication,  book  i.  ch,  ii.  §  3.]  who  little  thought  of 
fulfiling  prophecy,  adheres  to  the  fame  number  ;  "  for  though 
they  might  be  afterwards  fometimes  more  and  at  others  fewer,  yet 
(fays  Sir  If.  Ncivton)  they  are  Hill  called  the  ten  kings."  [Obferv. 
on  Dan.  ch.  vi.  p.  47,  73.]  [G.  E.] 

(c)  The  FOUR  jfry?  TRUMPETS.^  Thc^r^ trumpet  produces  a 
ftorm  of  fire,  of  hail  mingled  with  fire,  and  very  fitly  reprefents  the 
Goths  under  Jlhiric,  who  arc  compared  to  a  ftorm  of  hail  by  Clau- 
dian.  And  Philofiorgius  reprefents  this  period  as  remarkable  for 
Hghtning  and  hail. — At  the  fecond  trumpet  a  burning  mountain 
is  caft  into  the  fca,  which  was  ^tti/a  and  his  Hunns,  a  few  years  af- 
ter the  former.  He  called  himfelf  the  *  fcourge  of  God  and  the 
terror  of  men.' — At  the  founding  of  the  third  trumpet  the  ftar 
ivormzuood  talis  from  heaven,  fuppofed  to  predial  Genfer'ic,  a  per- 
fecuting  Arian,  king  of  the  Vandals. — By  the/c:^r?A  trumpet,  the 
political  luminaries  of  the  empire  were  terribly  eclipfed,  which 
was  effected  by  Gdoacer  king  of  the  Heruli,  who  put  an  end  to  the 
very  name  of  the  weftern  errvp-ire,  and  was  proclaimed  king  of  Ita- 
ly  ;  but  was  foon  removed  bv  Thcodoric  king  of  the  Oftrogoths, 
who  refumed  his  place.  The  bloodfhed  and  other  calamities, 
which  attended  thefe  revolutions,  are  beyond  conception.  [See  Bp. 
JVeii'ton  on  the  Prophecies,  vol.  iii.  djf.  24.]  [G.  E.j 


424  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

the  dragon  caft  out  of  his  iviouth.  [Rev.  xii.  16.]  Thefe 
Jurefics  which  fo  much  prevailed,  yet  after  a  while  dwin- 
dle away  and  truth  was  again  reflored.  (d)  As  foi  'Julian  i 
attempt,   it  was  difappointed  by  his  death, 

[2.]   The 

(d)  H^Kisi^s pnvaUcd.']  "We  cannot  difmifs  the  fubjeft  of  the 
ancient  herefies  without  two  or  three  remarks,  which  naturally 
arife  from  the  perufal  of  their  hiftory. 

1.  We  obferve,  that  every  nev/  opinion  that  was  ftarted,  which 
could  not  be  found  in  the  eftablif[;ed  creeds,  was  deemed  a  he- 
refy,  though  fometlmes  perfeAly  harmlcTs,  and  even  true.  Such 
were  the  opinions  that  unbaptifed  children  might  be  favcd-^that 
the  Virgin  Marj'-  had  children  after  our  Lord — and  the  doftrine  of 
the  Millenium.  This  method  foon  increafed  the  number  of  he- 
refies almoil  beyond  belief.  - 

2.  That  moil  of  the  herefies  of  thofe  days  which  dcfervcd  that 
opprobriou;^  name,  arofe  from  mixing  the  principles  of  the  philo- 
fophers  with  the  pure  truths  of  revelation.  This  idea  would  fill 
a  volume ;  we  ihall  therefore  only  illuftrate  it  by  two  or  three 
inftances. 

The  Gnojlics^  or  knotuing  ones,  as  the  term  implies,,  whether 
they  fprang  from  Simon  Magus  or  not,  formed  their  fyitem  of  a 
mixture  of  Chridianity  and  the  oriental  philofophy,  pLrfonifying 
I  know  not  what  attributes,  and  forming  a  gcneiation  of  JEonsy 

one  of  whom  they  fuppofed  to  he  Jefus  and  another  Gbrift. 

Valentinus,  a  great  admirer  of  the  Platonic  philofophy,  is  faid  to 
have  much  refined  this  fyftem,  and  founded  the  Valentinians. 
Origen,  and  many  of  the  orthodox,  in  feveral  particulars  alfo 
Platonized  ;  and  herein  was  laid  the  foundation  of  fcho'laftic  theo- 
logy, fo  much  cultivated  in  the  fiiccecding  ages. — Manes  was  a 
Perfian,  and  upon  the  fame  principle  endeavoured  to  unite  the 
Magian  fyftem  (which  he  had  formerly  profefied)  with  that  of 
Chriftianity,  and  in  this  fcheme  allotted  to  Jefus  Chrift  the  place 
of  Mithras,  the  Perfian  Deity.  Somewhat  like  that  Roman  em- 
peror, who  propofed  to  place  Jefus  Chrift  among  the  heathen 
idols  in  the  pantheon.  Manes  adopted  the  PerfiaU'  notion  of  two 
firft  principles,  and  founded  the  feihl  of  Manicheans,  who,  among 
other  impieties,  took  the  God  of  the  Jews  for  the  evil  principle, 
the  devil. — But  the  plan  of  ylmmonius  Saccas  is  faid  to  have  been 
more  liberal  and  extenfive,  he  propofed  to  harmonize  ail  the  dif- 
cordant  fyftcms  cf  religion  and  philofophy  in  the  world,  which 
he  attempted  by  allegorizing  the  Pagan  fyftem,  and  refined  upon 
others,  thus  malting  them  down,  as  it  we're,  into  one  mafs  of  he- 
terogeneous abfurdity.^ — It  fhould  be  added,  that  others,  who 
jukI  been  oiiginally  jfe-Tvs,  were  no  lefs  zealous  i«  uniting  the  laws 
of  Mofes  with  the  dottrines  of  Chrift,  of  v.-hich  wc  have  inftances 
even  in  the  Nev.-  Teftameut. 

^  vre 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        425 

[2.]  The  gofpel,  durlngthis  fpace  of  time,  was  farther 
propagated  amongfl:  many  barbarous  heathen  nations  In 
the  confines  of  the  heathen  Roman  empire.  In  tlie  time 
of  Conftantine  there  was  a  confiderable  propagation  of 
the  gofpel  in  the  Eaft  Indies,  chiefly  by  the  miniftry 
of  one  Frumentius,  Great  numbers  of  the  Iberians,  an 
heathen  people,  were  converted  to  Chriftianity  by  a  Chrif- 
tian  woman  of  eminent  piety,  whom  they  had  taken  cap- 
tive. And  among  feveral  other  barbarous  nations  who 
were  not  within  the  Roman  empire,  great  numbers  were 
brought  to  receive  the  gofpel  by  the  teaching  and  example 
of  captives  whom  they  had  taken  in  war.  After  this, 
about  the  year  of  Chrift  372,  the  gofpel  was  propagated 
in  Arabia  ;  as  it  was  alfo  among  Ibmc  of  the  northern 
nations  ;  particularly  a  prince  of  the  country  of  the  Goths 
about  this  time  became  Chriflian,  and  a  great  number  of 
his  people  with  him.  Towards  the  latter  end  of  this  cen- 
tury, the  gofpel  was  preached  among  the  Perfians;  alfo 
among  the  Scythians,  a  barbarous  people,  whom  the  apof- 
tle  mentions  [Col.  iii.  11.]  'Barbarian,  Scvthian,  bond 
*  or  free.'  About  the  year  430,  there  was  a  remarkable 
converfion  of  the  Burgundians  to  the  Chriftian  faith.  In 
this  age  Ireland,  which  till  now  had  been  heathen,  re- 
ceived Chriftianity.  About  the  fame  time  it  was  farther 
propagated  in  Scotland  and  other  places.  In  the  next 
century,  one  Zathus,  king  of  the  Colchians,  renounced 
3  I  heathenifm, 

3.  We  may  obfervc,  that  whatever  party  prevailed  conftantly 
fuppofed  themfelves  to  poflefs  a  right  of  vilifying  and  perfecuting 
all  others.  Calumny,  excommunication,  imprifonment,  and  ba- 
nifhmcQt,  were  the  potent  arguments  with  which  they  attacked 
their  adverfaries.  And  when  fome  coclefiaftical  revolution  turned 
the  fcales  and  raifed  the  fufFcrers  to  power,  they  were  fure  to  re- 
taliate upon  their  oppreffors.  It  is  faid  the  great  Conftantine  faw 
and  bewailed  this  antichriftlan  fpirit,  conjuring  the  oppofite  par- 
ties to  peace  and  unity,  but  all  in  vain.  Thefe  domeftic  perfe- 
cutions  very  much  increafed  the  number  of  herefies  and  fcliifm  ; 
for  oppofition  is  the  parent  of  divifion,  and  the  more  men  are  fet- 
tered in  matters  of  rehgious  opinion,  the  more  pcrverfe  and  ob- 
llinate  will  they  be.  It  has  been  well  obferved,  that  the  groat 
iecret  of  fubduing  fectaries  is  to  tolerate  them  ;  a  fecvct  which 
unhappily  was  not  difcovcred  in  thofe  times.  \J..  N.J 


426        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

h^thenjTiTi,  and  embraced  the  Chriflinn  religion,  as  did 
feX'eral  other  barbarous  nations  which  I  cannot  parcicu- 
jarize.  (e) 

Thus  T  have  briefly  confidered  the  principal  events  of 
Providence  which  concerns  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  from 
ConRaritine  to  the  rife  of  antichrift. 

4-  I 

(e)  The  gofpel  fctrther  propagated.^  On  this  narrative  we 
obierve,  that  the  principal  faftg  are  unqueftionable,  being  related 
by  Sozomerif  Socrates,  and  other  hiftorians  of  that  period,  and  in- 
I'erted  into  moft  later  ecclefiailical  hiftories  ;  it  is  not  neceffary, 
therefore,  to  cite  diftinft  authorities  for  each,  we  fhall  only  remark, 

1.  The  rfiearis  hy  Avhich  the  gofpel  was  thus  propagated,  which 
were  various;  (r.)  Preach'mg.  Frvwentiiis,  a  native  of  Egypt, 
mentioned  above,  preached  the  gofpel  alfo  in  Abyflinia,  and  hav- 
ing converted  fome  of  the  princes,  and  many  of  the  iiihabitants, 
was  made  bifliop  of  Axuma  by  Athanafius. — Origen,  at  the  in- 
vitation of  an  Arabian  prince,  is  faid  to  have  converted  a  numer- 
ous tribe  of  Arabs. — Patrick,  a  Scotfman,  whofe  original  name  is 
thought  to  have  been  Succbth,  is  faid  to  have  converted  the  Irifh  ; 
and  though  Anatoliis  and  Palladius  preached  there  before  him, 
yet  is  he  honoured  as  their  tutelar  faint,  as  having  had  moft  fuc- 
cefs. fi?rt^/«'s  Hill,  of  England,  vol.  i.  book  2.]  (2.)  Several 
nations  were  converted  by  means  of  Chriftian  capjives.  Thus  many 
of  the  Goths  firfl:  liitened  to  Chriftianity  in  the  third  century 
by  means  of  EutycheS,  and  were  excited  to  fend  for  Cliriftian 
preachers,  thougli  fome  give  a  later  date  and  the  following  means. 
(3.)  The  jJ/'o^m/y  of  the  Chriltian  empire,  and  the  manner  in 
which  Providence  appeared  for  Conftantlne,  induced  others  to 
embrace  Chrillianity  ;  this  is  related  particularly  of  the  Burgun- 
dians  and  fome  of  the  Goths,  as  juft  obferved.  And  others 
changed  their  religion  to  flatter  the  Roman  efnpcror,  as  one  Phri- 
tergenes,  a  king  of  the  Goths,  to  pleafe  Valens.  [Univer.  Hift. 
vol.  xvi.131.  ;  xviii.  325.  ;xix.  279,434 — ^-  y^^-  ^°'^>  390>  &e.l 

2.  This  however  does  not  appear  to  be  the  JirJI  converfion  of 
many  of  them.  Mod  of  the  then  known  world  received  the  gof- 
pel In  the  days  of  the  apoftles.  [See  above.  Note  q^,  page  407.] 
And  when  Paiitienas  preached  among  the  Indians,  he  found  a 
copy  of  St.  Matthew's  gofpel,  which,  they  faid,  had  been  left 
among  them  by  one  of  the  apoftks.  Some  alfo  dcferted  the  truth 
foon  after  they  had  received  it  :  the  Burgundians,  for  inftancc, 
vvho  within  fifty  years  turned  pevfecuting  Arians. 

3.  As  to  the  gofpel  thus  preached,  it  is  to  be  feared  it  wa?. 
feldom  veiy  pure.  Phritergones  and  iiis  people  received  their 
Chriftianity  by  means  of  Arian  preachers.  And  the  orthodox,  as 
tiiey  called  themfelves,  were,  by  the  third  and  fourth  renturies, 

c(jn- 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRLST.        427 

4.  I  come  now  to  the  fecond  part  of  the  time  from 
Couftantine  to  the  dellrutSiion  of  ajitichriix,  viz-  that  which 
reaches  from  the  rife  of  aijtichrift  to  the  reformation  by 
Luther  and  others.  And  this  is  the  darkcft  and  mod  dif- 
mal  day  that  ever  the  Chriilian  church  faw,  and  probably 
the  darkcft  that  ever  it  will  fee.  The  time  of  the  church's 
afflidtion,  as  was  obferved  befoie,  is  from  Chrift's  refur- 
re»5tion  till  the  deftruclion  of  antichrift,  excepting  what 
the  day  is,  as  it  were,  fliortencd  by  fome  inteimiflions  and 
times  of  refpite,  which  God  gives  for  the  elc6l's  fake.  [See 
Matt.  xxiv.  22.]  But  during  this  time,  from  the  rife  of 
antichrift  till  the  reformation,  was  a  fpace  wherein  the 
Chriftian  church  was  in  its  dcpreflion,  and  dar^nefs.  The 
church  in  this  fpace  was  for  many  hundred  years  in  a  ftatc 
of  great  obfcuritv,  like  the  woman  in  the  wildernefs  ; 
[Rev.  xii.  6.]  indeed  Ihc  was  almoft  hid  from  light  and 
obfervation.— In  fpcaking  of  the  events  of  this  fpare  of 
time,  I  would,  (i.)  Take  notice  of  tlie  machinations  of 
the  devil  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  in  this  time;  (2.) 
How  the  church  of  Chrift  was  upheld  during  it. 

(i.)  1  would  take  notice  of  the  machinations  of  the  devil 
againft   the  kingdom    of  Chrift   during  this   time.      Satan 

had 

coufiderably  corrupted  both  in  do£lrine  and  manners.  Many  alfo 
received  the  gofpel  but  in  part,  mixing  fome  particulars  of  it  with 
their  native  fuperftitions,  whence  fprang  thofe  numerous  fefts  of 
Semi-Chviftians,  as  we  may  call  them,  ilill  found  in  many  parts 
of  the  eall. 

4.  We  may  add,  that  early  in  the  following  century  (the  fifth) 
France  became  nominally  Chriftian,  on  the  following  occallon  : 
Colvis  L  a  pagan  prince,  f*;!!  in  love  with  Clotilda,  a  Chriftian 
princefs,  and  in  order  to  obtain  her,  promifed  to  receive  her  reli- 
gion ;  tliis,  however,  he  had  like  to  have  forgotten,  had  he  not 
a  few  years  after  been  in  danger  of  lofing  an  important  battle  ; 
then  he  renewed  his  vow  of  turning  Chriftian,  if  he  might  gain 
the  vidlory,  which  accordingly  liappening,  he  was  baptized,  with 
his  fifter,  and  3000  of  his  fubjefts.  {Robinfan's  Mem.  of  Refonn. 
in  France,  prefixed  to  Saurin's  Sermons,  vol.  i.]  A  few  yeais 
after  Pope  Gregory,  in  wonderful  charity,  fent  Aullin,  and  a 
tribe  of  other  monks,  to  convert  our  Saxon  anceftois,  (tlie  na- 
J^ives  havirg  fled  to  Wales)  and  had  fuch  fuccefs  a;  to  fonUid  the 

3  I   2  fce 


428        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

had  done  great  things  againft  the  Chriftian  church  before, 
but  had  been  bafBed  again  and  again.  Michael  and  his 
angels  had  obtained  a  glorious  viftory.  How  terrible 
was  his  oppofition  during  the  continuance  of  the  heathen 
empire  ;  and  how  glorious  was  Chrifl's  victory  and  tri- 
umph over  him  in  the  time  of  Conftantine  !  It  pleafed 
God  now  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  yet  greater  vi6^ory 
over  him,  to  fufFcr  him  to  renew  his  ftrength,  and  to  do 
the  utmoft  that  his  power  and  fubtilty  could  do ;  and 
therefore  he  fufFers  him  to  have  a  long  time  to  form  his 
fchemes,  and  to  eftablifh  his  interelT:  ;  and  permits  him  to 
carry  his  defigns  a  great  length,  almoft  to  the  fwallowing 
up  of  his  church  ;  and  to  exercife  a  proud,  and  almoft 
uncontrouled  dominion,  a  long  time  before  Chrift  finally 
conquers,  and  utterly  ruins  his  vifible  kingdom  on  earth, 
as  he  will  do  in  the  time  of  the  deftruilion  of  antichrift  ; 
and  fhovv'  himfelf  fuperior  to  all  his  power  and  fubtilty. 
The  two  grand  works  of  the  devil  which  he  wrought  in 
this  fpace  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  are  his  Anti- 
chriftian  and  Mahometan  kingdoms,  which  have  been, 
and  ftill  are,  of  great  extent  and  ftrength,  both  together 
fwallowing  up  the  ancient  Roman  empire ;  tljat  of  Anti- 
chrift the  Weftern,  and  Mahomet's  the  Eaftcrn  empire. 
It  is  in  the  deftru6tion  of  thefe  that  the  vi6lory  of  Chrift, 
at  the  introdu6lion  of  the  glorious  times  of  the  church, 
will  chiefly  confift.  And  here  let  us  briefly  obferve  how 
Satan  has  eredled  and  maintains  thefe  two  great  kingdoms 
in  oppofition  to  that  of  Chrift. 

[i.]  With  refpe(Sl  to  the  kingdom  of  antich)[ft.  This 
fecms  to  be  the  mafter  piece  of  all  the  devil's  contrivances, 
and  therefore  antichrift  is  called  emphatically  the  or  that 
*  man  of  fin,'   [2   ThefT.   ii.  3.]    as   though  he  were   fo 

eminently. 

fee  of  Canterbury,  of  which  he  was  the  firft  archblHiop.  But  it 
is  to  be  feared,  that  the  grand  aim  of  the  Roman  pontiff  was  to 
enlarge  his  power,  and  the  zeal  of  Auftjn  and  his  fellow  labourers 
to  propagate  the  trumpery  of  popery,  rather  than  the  doftrines 
of  the  gofpel.  \Rapin,  vol.  i.  book  3.  J  There  is  no  doubt  but 
Providence  over-ruled  all  thefe  events  for  good,  and  among  the 
fiiperftition  of  the  times,  there  were  always  fome  who  would  not 
bow  the  knee  to  Baal.  [G.  E.] 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        429 

eminently.  He  is  alfo  called  antlchrijl,  which  fignifies  the 
adverfary  of  Chrift.  Not  that  he  is  the  only  opponent  of 
Chrift  ;  for  the  apofllc  John  obferves,  that  in  his  days 
there  were  many  antichiills.  [i  John  ii.  18,  22.]  But 
yet  this  is  called  the  antichrift,  as  though  there  were  none 
other,  becaufe  he  was  fo  eminently,  and  above  all  others. 
So  this  contrivance  of  the  devil  is  called  the  myftery  of 
iniquity.  [2  TheiT.  ii.  -7.]  And  we  tind  no  enemy  of  Chrifl; 
half  fo  much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecies  of  Revelation  as 
this ;  or  his  deflruflion  fpoken  of  as  fo  happy  for  the 
church,  (f) 

This  is  a  contrivance  of  the  devil  to  turn  tlie  miniftry 
of  the  Chriftian  church  into  his  fervice,  and  change  thefe 
angels  of  the  churches  into  fallen  angels.  And  in  the 
tyranny,  fupcrftition,  idolatry,  and  perfecution,  which  he 
fets  up,  he  contrives  to  make  an  image  of  ancient  pagan- 
ifm,  and  more  than  to  reftore  what  was  loft  in  the  em- 
pire by  the  overthrow  of  heathenifm  in  the  time  of  Con- 
flantine  :  fo  that  by  thefe  means  the  head  of  the  beaft, 
which  was  wounded  unto  death  in  Conftantine,  has  his 
deadly  wound  healed  in  antichrift  ;  [Rev.  xiii.  3.]  and 
the  dragon,  that  formerly  reigned  in  the  heathen  Roman 
empire,  being  caft  out  thence,  after  the  beaft  with  levcn 
heads  and  ten  horns  rifcs  up  out  of  the  fea,  gives  him  his 
power,  and  feat,  and  great  authority  :  and  all  the  world 
wonders  after  tlie  beaft.   (c) 

I.  am 

(f)  Antichrist.]  Thatantichrift  intends  the  Pape  or  rather 
the  papal poiuer^  is  now  generally  agreed  by  protettant  writers,  and 
is  largely  (hewn  by  Bp.  Nenvlon  from  the  text  above  referred  to 
and  fome  others  [as  Dan.  vii.  20,  21. — i  Tim.  iv.  i.  &c. — i  John 
iv.  3. — 2  John  vii.  8.]  His  Lordfhip  has  likewife  effectually 
demoliflied  every  other  hypothefis  on  this  fubjeft.  [On  the  Proph. 
vol.  ii.  Dif.  22.] 

(g)   77ii' Image  of  the  Beast.] 

The  Pagan-  Dragon.  |  His  Popish   Image. 

Its  Head. 


The  Roman  Emperor,  called 
alfo  Pontifcx  max'tmus,  (or  high 
ptieft)  attended  with  his  princes 
in  loyal  purple. 


The  Pope,  alfo  Pontifcx  max- 
'tmus, with  his  college  of  cardi- 
nals cloathedin  purple. 


Its 


430        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

I  am  far  from  pretending  to  determine  the  time  %vJien 
the  reign  of  antichrill:  began,  which  is  a  point  that  has 
been  fo  m\ich  controverted  among  divines  and  expohtors- 
It  is  certain  that  the  1260  days,  or  years,  which  is  fo  of- 
ten in  fcripture  mentioned  as  the  time  of  the  continuance 
of  antichrifl's  reign,  did  not  commence  before  the  year  of 
Chriil  4^79  ;  becaufe  if  tliey  did,  they    would  have  ended, 

and 
Its  Members. 

The  Roman  provinces.  j  The  catholic^a/^j. 

Its  Gods. 

Befide    the    blefTed    Tritiify, 


Befides  yupiter  the  fupreme, 
DivaVefta,  (Juno  or  Luna)  and 
a  .Tnuhitude  of  deities  of  differ- 
ent ranks,  mediators  and  inter- 
cefTors  ;  prefiding  over  difierent 
countries,  profefTions,  difeafcs, 
days,  &.C. 


San6ta  Maria,  (the  Virgin  Ma- 
ry) mother  of  God  and  queen 
of  heaven,  with  innumerable 
faints  worfhipped  as  mediators 
and  interceiTors  ;  prefiding  over 
various  countries,  profeflions, 
difeafes,  days,  6cc. 


Places  of  Worfiilp. 


Tenr.ples  built  cad  and  well 
dedicated  to  their  feveral  gods  ; 
?.nd  one  in  particular  to  them 
all,  and  therefore  called  the  Paii- 
theon. 


The  fame  temples,  confecra- 
tcd  anew,  with  others  built  up- 
on the  fame  plan,  and  dedicated 
to  their  different  faints  ;  and  the 
fame  Pantheon  dedicated  to  all 
faints. 


Manner  of  Worflxip. 


Through  the  medium  of  rich 
images,  with  great  fplendour  and 
innumerable  ceremonies,  mag- 
nificent garments,  many  mufical 
jnftruments,  torches  at  noon 
day,  &c. 


By  the  fame,  or  fimllar  ima- 
ges with  equal  fplendour,  many 
of  the  fame  ceremonies,  the  like 
garments,  many  mufical  inflru- 
ments,  torches  at  noon  day,  &c. 


See  De  La-Line's  plea  [book  3.]  where  the  parallel  is  purfued 
through  feveral  other  heads  and  properly  lUuftiatLd  with  particu- 
lar inilances :  alfo  the  late  Dr.  Aliddletonh  Letter  from  Heme, 
who  has  carried  the  fubjeft  fllll  farther,  and  obferves,  when  we 
fee  "  the  prefcnt  people  of  Rome  worfhipping  at  this  day  in  the 
fame  temples — at  \.\ig  futiie  altars — fometimes  the  fame  images — and 
'alwavs  with  the  fah:e  cerer/ionies,  as  the'old  Romans ;  tliey  muil 
have  more  charity  as  well  as  ikUl  in  diftinguifliing,  than  I  pretend 
to,  who  can  abfolve  them  from  the  fame  crime  of  fuperftition  and 
idolatry  witl;  their  pagan  anceftors."  [U.  S.] 


TO  THE  FALL  Or  ANTICHRIST.        431 
and  antichrift  would  have  fallen  before  now.   (h)      But  the 
rife   of  antichrift  was  gradual.      The   Chriflian   church 
corrupted  itfelf  in  many   things  prcfcntly  after  Conftan- 
tine's  time,  growing   more  and  more   lupcrftitious   m  its 
worlhip,  by  degrees  bringing    in  many   ceremonies   mto 
the  worQup  of  God,  till  at  length  they  brought  m  the 
worfhip   of  faints,  and  fet  up  images  in  their  churches 
and  the  clergy  in  general,  and  efpecially  the  biH^op   of 
Rome,  affumed  more  and  more  authority  to  himfelf.  (i) 
In  the'  primitive  times  he  was  only  a  miniilcr  of  a  congre- 
gation ;  then   a  ftanding  moderator  of  a  preil^ytery-— a 
°  diocelan 

(h)    r/..  beginning  ofthere'tsn  of  Antichrift.-}    The  beft  Inter- 
preters (as  Mr.  Fleming,  Sir  I.  Newton,  Mr.  Lowman,  Dr.  Dod- 
dridee,  Bp.  Newton,  and  Mr.  Reader)  are  pretty  wefl  agreed  that 
this  reign  IS  to  be  dated  from  about  A.  D.  756,  when  the   Pope 
be£ran  to  be  a  temporal  power,   (that  is,  in  prophetic  language,  a 
W)  by  affuming  temporal  dominion  ;    1260  years  from  this  pe- 
riod will  bring  us  to  about  A.  D.  2000,  and  about  the  6000th 
year  of  the  world,  which  agrees  with  a  tradition  at  leall  as  ancient 
as  the  epittle  afcrlbed  to  the  apoftle  Barnabas  [$    15.]  which  favG, 
that  "In   fix  thoufand  years   fliall  all  things  be  accomplif.ied. 
[See  Dodclr.  inloc.  and  Bp.  Newton  on  the  Prop.  vol.  1.  Diff.  14.] 
(0    Popift^  fuperfitlon  GKA-DV M^i^^  introducecL']     The   foilo\ving 
chronological  lift  of  Poplfh  peculiarities  is  taken  from  the  late  Mr. 
Toplaily. 

C^  t?  T^  T  TJ  R  Y  • 

II.  Marriage  and  eating  flefh  forbid  ;  Lent  enjoined  ;  the  keep- 
ing of  Eaftcr,  and  excommunication  began  to  be  abuled. 

III.  Keeping  of  Chridmas  and  Whitfunday  enjoined  ;  comme- 
moration of' martyrs  ;  facred  veftments  ;  oblations  for  the  dead; 
facraments  corrupted  ;  new  orders  of  clergymen  inflituted  ;  and  a 
monalllc  life  applauded.  ■,    ,     tt  -j  a 

IV.  Relics  venerated  ;  pilgrimages  recommended  ;  r  nday  maae 
a  fail  day  ;  and  the  clergy  forbad  to  marry. 

V.  Piaure«,  Images,  and  altars  erefted  in  churches;  tapers 
burnt  at  noon  day  ;  penances  and  prayers  for  the  dead  pradifed  ; 
monafterles  erefted  for  nuns.  ,       •  -i 

VI.  Sacrifice  of  the  mafs  ;  the  clergy  exempted  from  the  civil 
jurifdiaion  ;  indulgencies  eltabliflsed  ;  herefy  made  death. 

VII.  Pope  made  unlvcrfal  bifhop  ;  pantheon  dedicated  to  aU 
the  faints  ;  payers  to  faints,  and  the  Latin  language  enjoined. 

VIII.  Pope  made  a  temporal  prince,  and  began  to  depofe  kings ; 

image  worfhip  enjoined. 

**  L\.  Saints 


432        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

diocefan  bifliop— a  metropolitan,  which  is  equivalent  to  au 
archbirtiop-— a  p;itriarch  ;  then  he  claimed  the  power  of 
univerfal  bifliop  over  the  whole  Chriftian  church,  where- 
in he  was  oppofed  for  a  while,  but  contirmed  in  it  by  the 
civil  power  of  the  emperor  in  the  year  606.  After  that 
he  claimed  the  power  of  a  temporal  prince  ;  and  fo  was 
wont  to  carry  two  fvvords,  to  fjgnify  both  his  temporal 
and  fpiritual  power,  and  affumed  more  and  more  authority, 
till  at  length  he,  as  Chrift's  vicegerant  on  earth,  claimed 
the  very  fame  power  that  Ciirift  would  have,  if  he  was 
prefent  on  earth,  and  reigned  on  his  throne,  or  the  fame 
power  that  belongs  to  God  ;  he  even  ufed  to  be  called  God 
on  earth,  and  fubmitted  to  by  all  the  princes  of  Chriften- 
dom.  (k)  He  claimed  power  to  crown  princes,  and  to  de- 
grade them  at  his  pleafurc  ;  and  brought  kings  and  empe- 
rors to  kifs  his  feet.  Emperors  were  wont  to  receive  their 
crowns  at  his  hands,  and  princes  dreaded  the  difpleafurc 
of  the  Pope,  as  they  would  have  done  a  thunderbolt  from 
heaven  ;  for  if  the  Pope  was  pleafed  to  excommunicate  a 
prince,  all  his  fubjc61:s  were  at  once  freed  from  their  alle- 
giance, yea,  and  obliged  to  renounce  it  on  pain  of  excom- 
munication ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  any  man  might  kill 
him  wherever  he  found  him.  Further,  the  Pope  was  be- 
lieved to  have  power  to  damn  men  at  plcafure  ;  for  who- 
foever  died  under  his  excomm-unication,  was  looked  upon 
as  certainly  loft.  Several  emperors  were  a£l:uallv  depoled, 
and  died  miferably  by  his  means  ;  and  if  the  people  of  any 

ftate 

IX.  Saints  canonized  ;  and  tranfubftantiation  maintained  ;  col- 
lege of  cardinals  inftituted. 

X.  Agnus  Dci's  invented  and  bells  baptized. 

XI.  Purgatory  and  beads  invented. 

XII.  The  fcholaftic  writers  arofe. 

XIII.  Cup  refufed  to  the  laity  ;  auricular  confcfllon  enjoined  ; 
jubilee  appointed  ;  friars  inftituted. 

XIV.  IndulgencesybZr/. 

XV.  Seven  facraments  eftabliflicd. 

[Gof.  Mag.  Dec.  1775,  and  Sup.] 
(k)    The  Pop!  a  GOD.]   So  he  was  ftiled,  "  Our  Lord  God  the 
Pope — a  God  on  earth — the  power  of  the.Pope  (fay  they)  exceed.^ 
all  created  power,  and  extends  to  things  celeitlal,  tcrreftial  and  in- 
fernal."  [Newton  on  the  Proph.  vol.  ii.  p.  36^.] 


TO    THE   FALL   OF   ANTICHRIST.      433 
ftate   or  kingdom  did  not  pleafe  him,  he  could  lay  that 
ft.re  or  kincrdom  under  an  interdidl,  whcrchy   all  Incved 
adminiftratio'ns    among    them    could    have    no     validity. 
There  could  be  no  valid  facraments,  prayers,  preaching, 
or  pardons,    till   that    interdia    was   taken    oft;    fo   that 
people  remained,    in   their   apprehenhon,    m   a  damnable 
ftate,  and  therefore  dreaded  it  as  they  would  a  llorm  ol 
tire  and  brimftone  from  heaven.     And  in  order  to  execute 
his  wrath  on  a  prince  or  people  with  whom  the  Pope  was 
difpleafed,  other  princes  muft  alfo  be  put  to  a  -reat  deal  of 
trouble  and  expence.  (i.) 

As  the  Pope  with  his  clergy  robbed  the  people  of  their 
ecclefiaftical  and  civil  liberties  and  privileges,  fo  he  alio 
robbed  them  of  their  eftates,  and  drained  all  Chnftendoin 
of  their  money,  ingroffing  their  riches  into  his  own  cof- 
fers, by  revenues  of  the  clergy,  pardons,  indulgencies,  bap- 
tifms  and  extreme  unaions,  deliverance  out  ot  purgatory, 
and  an  hundred  other    things,    (m)— See  how  well   this 

agrees 

(l)   Princes  deposed  or  deprived  hy  Popes.] 

1.  Pope  Zachary  I.  depofod  Childerick,  King  of  Fiance. 

2.  Gregory  VII.  Henry  IV.  Emperor. 

Urban  II.  P'ndip»  ^'"g  ^^  France. 


3.  u roan  11.  •  i  wini^,  ^— "t,  —   --  — 

i    Adrian  IV.  William,   King  of  Sicdy. 

5. Innocent  III.  Philip*  Emperor. 

Gregory,  Frederick  II. 

Innocent  IV.  John,  King  of  England. 

Ui-ban  IV.  Mamphred,  King  of  Sicily. 

Nicholas  III.  Charles,  King  of  Sicily. 

Martin  IV.  Peter,  King  of  Arragon. 

Boniface  VIII.  deprived  Philip  the  Fair. 

Clement  V.  depofed  Henry  V.  Emperor. 


6. 

9- 
10. 
1 1. 
12. 


I  /   John  XXII.     deprived  Lodovick,  Emperor. 

14. Gregory  IX.    depofed  Wenceflaus,  Emperor. 

,t Paul  in.  deprived  Henry  VIII.  King  of  England. 

^*  [Bennet's  Memorial,  p.  30.] 

For  the  fentiments  of  the  poplfh  decrees  and  dodors  on  this  fub- 
jea,  fee  '  Spirit  of  Popery,'  ch.  vlii.  and  Sir  R.  Steele,  Rom.  Lcclel. 
Hilt.  No.  III.  and  IV.  where  may  be  feen  a  famous  oration  ot  Fo,.e 
Sixtus  V.  1589,  applauding  the  murder  of  Henry  III.  of  France, 
by  a  Tacoblne  friar,  as  both  admirable  and  meritorious. 

(m)  rbeVo?LryKM^^XiChri/iendom:]  This  he  did  by  the  iol- 
lowing  ingenious  methods : 


43+        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

agrees  with  the  prophecies  above  referred  to,  viz.  [Thef.  ii. 
3,  4.   Dan.  vii.  20,   21.    Rev.  xiii.  6,   7.  and  xvii.  3,  4.] 

During 

-Some  Account  of  the  Fees  of  the  Pope's  Chancery  for  jibfolutionst  Li- 
cences, InJu/gencies,  isfc. 

Absolutions.  GrofTos.f 

For  lying  with  a  woman  in  the  chilrch  -  -  -     6 

For  wilful  perjury  -  -  -  -  -  -        -     6 

A  pried  for  fimony  -  -  -  -  -  .       .      j 

A  layman  for  murdering  a  layman  -  -  -  -     5 

For  killing  father,  mother,  wife,  fifter,  or  other  relative       -     7 
For  a  prieil  that  keeps  a  concubine  -  -  -  -     7 

For  defiling  a  virgin  -  -  -  -  -  --6 

For  lying  with  mother,  or  fifter,  &c.  -  -  -         ■     5 

For  robbery,  or  bursing  a  neighbour's  houfe  -  -     -     8 

For  forging  letters  apoftolical       -       -         -  -  i7oriS 

For  a  king  going  to  the  holy  fepulchre  without  licence  100 

Licences. 
To  change  a  vow  of  going  to  Rome  -  -  -  -12 

That  a  king,  on  Chriftmas-day  morning,  may  have  a  naked 

fword  borne  before  him,  as  the  Pope  has  -  -      150 

To  have  a  portable  altar  -  -  -  -  -  10 

To  eat  flefli  in  Lent,  &c.  -  -  -  -  12  or  16 

That  one  who  preaches  before  a  king,  may  give  indulgence 

to  all  his  hearers  -  -  -  -  -  -12 

For  a  town  that  hath  ufed  green  wax  in  its  feal,  to  ufe  red     50 
Fora  layman  to  chufe  his  confeffor  -  -  .  10 

Indulgencies. 
For  an  hofpital  or  chapel  for  feven  years  -  -    ,         50 

That  a  layman  may  remove  the  relics  of  faints  to  his  own 

chapel        --.  -  .  .  -  .  16 

For  a  remilfion  of  the  third  part  of  one's  fins  -  -      100 

■\-  A  GrofTo  is  fomewhat  more  than  our  groat. 

The  above  account  is  correftly  taken  from  Taxa  S.  Cancellaria 
ApoJlolu\-c  ed'ul.  L.  Blanch.  Fran.  1 651.  where  p.  79,  (fpeaking 
of  matrimonial  difpenfations)  are  thtfe  remarkable  words — 

"  N.  B.  Thefe  benefits  cannot  be  given  to  the  poor;  becaufe 
they  have  not,  therefore  they  cannot  be  comforted. 

Of  this  famous  book  there  were  no  lefs  than  fifteen  editions  at 
diifcrent  places  abroad  between  A.  D.  15 14  and  1700. 

*^*  Indulgencies  were  often  granted  to  whole  fraternities,  and 
fomctimes  for  a  1000  years  or  more. 

"  'Tis  almoft  incredible  what  fums  of  mftney  are  drawn  into  the 
Pope's  coffer,  by  thcfe  and  other  little  devices  that  depend  upon 
thera;  as  maffes,  requiems,  trentals,  obits;  as  alfo  by  Peter-pence, 

tenths. 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        455 

D\Jring  this  time  aifo  fuperftition  and  ignorance  more 
and  more  prevailed.  The  holy  fcriptures  by  degrees  were 
taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  laity,  the  better  to  promote 
the  r.nfcriptural  and  wicke  d  dcfigns  of  the   Pope  and  his 

3  K  2  clergy  ; 

tenths,  firft  fruits,  appeals,  inveftitures;  by  the  fale  of  Agnus 
Dei's,  confecrated  beads,  and  fuch  like  ware  fent  from  Rome  every 
year;  by  difpenfations,  mortuaries,  pilgrimages  to  the  spoftolic 
fee,  efpecially  at  the  jubilee.  Some  have  computed  that  the 
tenths  and  fird  fruits  in  this  nation  amounted  to  above  £.  20,000 
per  annum,  which  was  no  fmall  fum  in  thofe  times,  nay,  one 
archbifhop's  pall  (Walter  Grey's  of  York)  coft  £.  10,000  fterHng, 
fays  Matthew  Paris.  In  our  Henry  the  Third's  time  it  was  rec- 
koned that  the  Pope's  revenue  out  of  this  nation  exceeded  the 
king's;  and  fome  that  have  endeavoured  to  make  the  eflimate 
tell  us,  that  there  went  60,000  marks  yearly  out  of  this  land  to 
Rome;  in  collecfling  which  fums,  the  frauds  and  cruelties  of  their 
agents  were  fuch,  that  a  great  bigot  of  the  Pope's,  and  a  hot 
llickler  in  Bccket's  caufe,  Johan.  Sanjh.  aflTures  us,  "  That  the 
legates  of  the  apoftollcal  feat  did  tyrannize  over  the  provinces,  as 
if  the  devil  was  gone  out  from  the  prefcnce  of  the  Lord  to  fcourge 
the  church." 

"  Nor  had  our  neighbours  much  better  treatment  ;  the  fame 
trade  was  carried  on  in  other  countries,  witnefs  the  complaint  of 
the  Germans  in  their  hundred  grievances  ;  and  that  of  the  coun- 
cil of  Spain,  mentioned  by  Sandys  In  his  Europas  Speculum,  viz. 
that  Pope  Pius  V.  had  got  14  millions  out  of  that  kingdom  in  a 
fliort  fpace.  And  Ciracella  affirms,  that  Pope  Sixtus  V.  in  five 
years  time  collecfted  five  millions  of  crowns  ;  four  millions  of  which 
Gregory  XIV.  his  fucceffor,  wafted  in  pomp  and  riot  In  lefs  than 
ten  months. 

"  Nov,'  need  we  wonder  at  this,  confidering  how  many  hands 
wore  employed  ?  The  grand  fiHierman  at  Rome  had  a  multitude 
in  every  country  to  angle  partly  for  him,  and  partly  for  them- 
Iclves.  Alltcad  reckons  above  a  hundred  years  ago,  that  there 
were  then  at  Icaft  225,044  monafterles  In  ChrHlendom;  and  if  you 
allow  forty  perfons  to  ?.  houfe,  the  number  will  be  more  than  nine 
million.  Now  all  thefe,  and  the  reft  of  the  ecclefiaftics,  which, 
like  locufts  had  overfpread  the  face  of  the  earth,  lived  upon  the 
plunder  of  the  people  ;  and  bcfides,  they  had  a  thoufand  little 
tricks  and  dcvlfes  in  getting  money  ;  they  could  fell  a  dead  man's 
bones  at  a  vaft  fum  ;  Auftin's  particularly  (that  were  tranflated 
from  Hippo  to  Sardina)  were  purchafed  at  an  hundred  talents  of 
filvcr,  and  a  talent  of  gold  :  and  having  almoft  an  Infinite  variety 
of  ware,  which  they  put  off  at  no  fmall  rate,  taking  advantage  of 
the  fuperftition  and  credulity  of  their  filly  chapmen."  [Ben net's 
Mem.  of  the  Reform,  p.  27 — 39.  See  alfo /V/:t's  Church  Hift. 
book  V.J 


436         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

clergy ;  and  inftead  of  promoting  knowledge  among  tlie  peo- 
ple, they  induftiioufly  promoted  ignorance,  (n)  It  was  a 
received  maxim  among  them,  that  ignorance  is  the  mother 
of  devotion  :  and  fo  great  was  the  darknefs  of  thofe  times, 
that  learning  was  almoft  extin6l  in  the  world.  Mod  of 
the  prieils  thcmlelvcs  were  barbaroufly  ignorant  as  to  any 
ether  knovv^ledge  than  their  infernal  craft  in  oppreffing 
and  tyrannizing  over  the  fouls  of  the  people.  The  fuper- 
flition  and  wickednefs  of  the  church  of  Rome  kept  grow- 
ing worfe  and  worfe  till  the  very  time  of  the  Reforma- 
tion ;  and  the  whole  Chriftian  world  were  led  away  into 
this  grand  defedlion;  except  the  Greek  church  and  fome 
others  which  were  funk  into  equal  darknefs  and  fuper- 
flition ;  with  a  few  that  were  the  people  of  God,  who 
are  reprefented  by  the  woman  in  the  wildernefs,  and  God's 
two  witnefles,  of  which  more  hereafter. 

This-is  the  chief  of  thofe  two  great  kingdoms  wliicli  the 
devil  in  this  period  eredled  in  oppofition  to  the  kingdom 
of  Chriit.     I  come  now, 

[2.]  To  fpeak  of  the  other,  which  is  in  many  rcfpeils 
like  unto  it,  viz.  his  Mahometan  kingdom,  which  is  alfo 
of  mighty  power  and  vail  extant,  fet  up  by  Satan  againfl: 
the  kingdom  of  Chrifl:  this  was  fet  up  in  the  eaflern  em- 
pire, as  that  of  antichrift  in  the  weftern. 

Alahomet  was  born  in  tlie  year  of  Chrifl  571',  in  Arabia. 
When  he  was  about  forty  years  of  age,  he  began  to  give 
out  tliat  he   was  the   great  prophet  of  God,  and  to  teach 

his 

(n)  Papists  inimical  to  scripture.]  The  proofs  of  this  are 
endlefs  ;  we  can  only  refer  to  a  tra£l  called  "  Popery  an  Enemy  to 
fcripture,"  by  theRev.y.  Serces,  ( 1 736)'who  has  ihevvn  that  papilts 
prohibit  the  laity  to  read  the  fcriptures — that  the  principles  of  po- 
pery annul  its  authority — that  their  divines  fptak  of  them  witli 
great  contempt — that  theymadedecrccs  inoppolition  tothcm — that 
they  falfify  them  in  their  tranflations.— Memorable  is  the  llory  of 
Fulgeniitts,  the  friend  of  Father  Paul,  who  preaching  on  Pilate's 
queilion,  '  What  is  truth  ?'  told  the  audience,  that  after  many  re- 
fearches  he  had  found  it  out,  and  holding  out  a  New  Teflament 
laid,  it  was  there  in  his  hand,  but  added,  putting  it  again  into  his 
pocket — "  The  book  is  prohibited."  [Letter  toBp.  of  Cavlifle— 
quoted  Mon.  Rev.  Jan.  1778.] 


TO   THE    FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.       437 

his  new  religion,  of  which  he  was  to  be  confidercd  as  the 
head  next  under  God.  He  publifhed  his  Koran,  which  he 
pretended  to  have  received  Irom  the. angel  Gabriel  ;  (o) 
and  being  a  crafty  man,  pofleffed  of  confiderable  wealth, 
and  living  among  a  people  who  were  very  ignorant,*  and 
greatly   divided    in    their   opinions    of    religions   matters,. 

by 

(o)  77j<?  Koran.]  This  celebrated  book  (called  in  Arabic,  A1- 
koran)  is  the  bible  of  the  Turks,  and  very  different  charafters  arc 
given  of  it  by  Mahometans  and  Chriflians  :  the  following  hints  are 
clefigned  to  give  an  impartial,  though  concife,  view  of  it,  and  ba- 
lance the  oppofite  accounts. 

1.  It  muil:  be  confefl'cd  to  contain  many  fuWime  ideas  ;  and  for 
the  elegance  and  correftncfs  of  its  itylc,  is  confidered  as  the  ftandard 
of  the  Arabian  language.  It  alfo  contains  a  number  of  fine  moral 
obfervations  and  excellent  precepts,  particularly  on  the  articles  of 
julUce  and  alms-deeds. 

2.  On  the  other  hand  It  Is  equally  true,  the  Koran  contains  a 
great  number  of  abfurdltles  and  falfehoods  ;  tales  too  abfurd  for 
fuperannuatlon  to  relate,  or  Infancy  to  believe  :  nay,  a  variety  of 
injunctions  the  mod  tyrannical  and  fangulnary  that  ever  were  deli- 
vered; witnefs  his  laws  concerning  women,  Infidels,  revenge.  Sec. 

3.  In  reply  to  our  firll  remark,  Chrllllan  writers  have  obfervcd 
that  the  fubllmcil  of  his  Ideas  and  the  beft  of  his  precepts  were  pro- 
bably borrowed  from  his  converfatlon  with  Jews  and  Clirlfllans ; 
not  to  mention  the  current  ftory  of  his  being  afiilted  by  a  Jew  aod 
a  Monk,  v.hlch  Mr.  Gibbon  will  not  admit. 

4.  In  anfwer  to  our  fecond  obfervatlon,  many  of  the  Mahometan 
doftors  pretend  that  the  reveries  v/e  defplfe  are  mere  allegories,  and 
capable  of  a  myllical  explication,  neither  carnal  nor  ridiculous. 
The  precepts  which  we  condemn,  they  alfo  juilify  as  perfeftly 
confiftent  with  the  ideas  of  eaflern  nations,  though  they  appear 
llrange  and  arbitrary  to  the  wellern  world. 

5.  Praftlfing  the  grand  ChrilHan  precept  of  doing  as  we  would 
be  done  by,  and  making  all  reafonable  allowances ;  ftlU  nothing 
can  reafon  away  the  Impoilurc  of  feigned  revelations  ;  nothing  juf- 
tlfics  the  tyranny  of  many  of  his  laws ;  nothing  palliate  the  cru- 
elty and  bloodftied  that  frequently  marked  his  conquefts. 

6.  Laftiy,  In  one  view,  hov/ever,  we  may  contemplate  Mahome- 
tanlfm  with  plcafure  and  Inftruftlon,  as  It  affords  a  jjowerful  argu- 
ment In  defence  of  Chrlftlanlty,  and  contains,  even  in  the  Koran, 
its  own  refutation,  Mahomet  allows  the  miffion  both  of  Mofes  and 
of  Chrlfc,  and  thus  confirms  both  the  Old  Teftamcnt  and  the  New  ; 
and  yet  (wonderful  Inconfillency! )  with  neither  of  thefe  can  his 
doftrincs  In  any  manner  be  reconciled.  He  admits  that  both  the 
Jewifli  leglllator  and  the  Mcfiiah  of  the  gofpels  were  commiffioned 
from  above,  and  yet  If  either  be  admitted,  Maliomct  muli  certainly 
be  rcjefted  as  an  cnthufiaft;  or  an  impofior.  [G.  E,] 


438        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

by  fubtilty,  and  fair  promifes  of  a  fenfual  paradife,  he 
gained  a  number  to  be  his  followers,  fet  up  for  their 
prince,  propagated  his  religion  by  the  fword,  and  made 
it  meritorious  of  paradife  to  fight  for  him.  By  which 
means  his  party  grew,  and  went  on  fighting  till  they  con- 
quered and  brought  over  the  neighbouring  countries:  and 
io  his  party  gradually  increafed  till  they  over-ran  a  great 
part  of  the  world,   (p)      Firft,    the   Saracens,  who  were 

fome 

(p)  The  Character  of  Mahomet.]  Many  will,  we  hope,  be 
gratified  by  the  following  extraft  from  Mahomei'i,  charaAer,  drawn 
by  the  mafterly  hand  of  Mr.  Gibbon  ;  in  which,  however,  it  is 
but  judice  to  hint  to  the  juvenile  part  of  our  readers,  that  this 
elegant  hiilorian  appears  too  much  inclined  to  admire  any  fyftem 
inimical  to  Chriltianity. 

"  According  to  the  tradition  of  his  companions,  Mahomet  was 

dillinguifhed  by  the  beauty  of  his  perfon They  applauded 

his  commianding  prefence,  his  majeflic  afpecl,  his  piercing  eye, 
his  gracious  fmiie,  his  flowing  beard,  his  countenance  that  paint- 
ed every  fenfation  of  the  foul,  and  his  geilures  that  enforced  each 
cxpreiTion  of  the  tongue.  In  the  familiar  offices  of  life  he  fcru- 
puloufly  adhered  to  the  grave  and  ceremonious  politenefs  of  his 
country ;  his  refpedlful  attention  to  the  rich  and  powerful  was 
dignified  by  his  condcfcenfion  and  affability  to  the  pooreft  citizens 
of  Mecca  ;  the  franknefs  of  his  manner  concealed  the  artifice  of 
his  views  ;  and  the  habits  of  courtefy  were  imputed  to  perfonal 
friendfhip  or  univerfal  benevolence.  His  memory  was  capacious 
and  retentive,  his  wit  eafy  and  fecial,  his  imagination  fublime,  his 
judgment  clear,  rapid,  and  decifive.  He  poffeffed  the  courage 
both  of  thought  and  aftion  ;  and,  although  his  defigns  might  gra- 
dually expand  with  his  fuccefs,  the  firft  idea  which  he  entertained 
ot  his  divine  miffion  bears  the  ftamp  of  an  original  and  fuperior 
genius.  The  fon  of  Abdallah  was  educated  in  the  bofom  of  the 
nobleft  race,  in  the  ufe  of  the  purell  dialeft  of  Arabia;  and  the  flu- 
ency of  his  fpeech  was  correfted  and  enhanced  by  the  practice  of 
difcreet  and  feafonable  filence.  With  thafe  powers  of  elocjuence, Ma- 
homet was  an  illitciate  barbarian  :  his  youth  had  never  been  in- 
ftrufted  in  the  arts  of  reading  and  writing  ;  the  common  igno- 
rance exempted  him  from  fhame  and  reproach ;  but  he  was  re- 
duced to  a  narrow  circle  of  cxillence,  and  deprived  of  thofe  faith- 
iul  mirrors,  which  rofleft  to  our  mind,  the  minds  of  fages  and 
heroes.  Yet  the  book  of  nature  and  of  man  was  open  to  his  view. 
....  From  liis  carlieih  youth,  Mahomet  w^s  addicled  to  religioua 
contemplation  :  each  year,  during  the  month  of  Ramadan,  he 
withdrew  from  the  world,  and  from  the  arms  of  Cadijah  ;  in  the 
cave  of  Hera,  three  miles  from  Mecca,  he  confulted  the  fpirit  of 

fraud 


TO   THE   FALL    OF    ANTICHRIST.       439 

fome  of  his  followers,  and  were  a  people  of  the  country 
of  Arabia,  where  Mahomet  lived,  about  the  year  700, 
began  dreadfully  to  wafte  the  Roman  empire.  They  con- 
quered a  great  many  countries  belonging  to  the  empire, 
and  continued  their  vi6\ories  for  a  long  time.  Thefe  are 
fuppofed  to  be  meant  by  the  locufts  that  we  read  of  in  the 
ixth  chap,  of  Revelation.  (  q^)  After 

fraud  or  entluifiafm,  whofe  abode  is  not  In  the  heavens,  but  in  the 
mind  of  the  prophet.  The  faith  which,  under  the  name  of  JJIam, 
he  preached  to  his  family  and  nation,  Is  compounded  of  an  eter- 
nal truth  and  a  necefTary  fiction,  That  there  is  only  one  God,  and  that 
Mahomet  is  the  apojlle  of  God. 

Charity  may  believe  that  the  original  motives  of  Mahomet  were 
thofe  of  pure  and  genuine  benevolence;  but  a  human  mUTionary 
Is  Incapable  of  cherlfliing  the  oblllnate  unbelievers  who  rejeft  his 
claims,  defpife  his  arguments,  and  perfecute  his  life  ;  he  might 
forgive  his  perfonal  advcrfarles,  he  may  lawfully  hate  the  enemies 
of  God ;  the  ftern  paffions  of  pride  and  revenge  were  kindled  In 
the  bofom  of  Mahomet,  and  he  fighed,  like  the  prophet  of  Ni- 
neveh, for  the  deftruftion  of  the  rebels  whom  he  had  condem- 
ned. The  Injuftlce  of  Mecca  and  the  choice  of  Medina  tranf- 
formed  the  citizen  Into  a  prince  ;  the  humble  preacher  Into  the 
leader  of  armies  ;  but  his  fword  was  confecrated  by  the  example 
of  the  faints ;  and  the  fame  God  who  affllfts  a  finful  world  with 
peftilence  and  earthquakes,  might  infpire,  for  their  converfion  or 
chaftlfemcnt,  the  valour  of  his  fervants.  In  the  exerclfe  of  poli- 
tical government,  he  was  compelled  to  abate  the  flern  rigour  of 
fanatlcifm,  to  comply  in  fome  meafure  with  the  prejudices  and 
paffions  of  his  followers,  and  to  employ  even  the  vices  of  man- 
kind as  the  Inftruments  of  their  falvation.  The  ufe  of  fraud  and 
perfidy,  of  cruelty  and  Injuftlce,  were  often  fubfervient  to  the 
propagation  of  the  faith  ;  and  Mahomet  commanded  or  appro- 
ved the  afiafiination  of  the  Jews  and  Idolaters  who  had  efcaped 
from  the  field  of  battle.  By  the  repetition  of  fuch  afts,  the  cha- 
rafter  of  Mahomet  mud  have  been  gradually  ftained  ;  and  the 
Influence  of  fuch  pernicious  habits  would  be  poorly  compenfatcd 
by  the  praftlce  of  the  perfonal  and  focial  virtues  which  are  necef- 
fary  to  maintain  the  reputation  of  a  prophet  among  his  feftaries 
and  friends.  Of  his  laft  years,  ambition  was  the  ruling  paffion  ;  and 
a  politician  will  fufpecl,  that  he  fecrctly  fmilcd  (the  victorious 
Impoftor  ! )  at  the  enthufiafm  of  his  youth  and  the  credulity  of 
his  profelytes."  [Gibbon's  Decline  of  the  Roman  Emp.  vol.  v. 
ch.  50.  N.  B.  Compare  Prideaux's  Life  of  Mahomet,  ch.  I.  with 
Sale's  preliminary    Difcourfe,  or  Mo/heim'$  Eccl.  Hill.   vol.  I,  p. 

(  f»_)  Saracens  compared  to  locxjsts.I  This  they  may  be, 
I.   From  their  fvvarms,  as  the  Saracens  were  almoft  innumerable; 

2.   Arabia. 


440        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

After  tlris  the  Turks,  who  were  originally  another 
people,  different  from  the  Saracens,  but  were  followers 
of  Mahomet,  conquered  all  the  eaftern  empire.  Their 
empire  commenced  about  the  year  of  Chrift  1296,  and 
about  1300  they  began  to  invade  Europe,  took  Conftan- 
tinople,  and  fo  became  mafter  of  all  the  eaftern  empire  in 
the  year  1453,  "^^^i^h  is  near  three  hundred  v^^-rsago.  And 
tlius  all  thofe  cities,  where  the  famous  churches  of  Jerufa- 
lem,  Antioch,  Ephcfus,  Corinth,  &c.  were,  now  became 
fubject  to  the  Turks.  And  they  took  pcffeiTion  of  Con- 
ftantinople,  which  was  named  after  Conftantine  the  Great, 
and  made  by  him  the  city  of  the  Roman  empire.  Thefe 
Turks  are  fuppoled  to  be  prophefied  of  by  the  horfemcn  in 
the  ixth  chap,  of  Revelation,  [ver.  15,  &c.]  (r)  And  the 
remains  of  the  Chriftians  in  thofe  parts  of  the  world,  who 
are  mofHy  of  the  Greek  church,  are  in  miferable  flavery 
under  thefe  Turks,  and  treated  with  a  great  deal  of  barba- 
rity and  cruelty,  and  are  become  generally  very  ignorant 
and  fuperftitious. 

Thus  I  liave  Ihown  what  great  works  of  Satan  were 
wrought  during  this  ipace  of  time  in  oppofition  to  the 
kingdom  of  Chrift. 

(2.)  I  come  now  to  ihow  how  the  church  of  Chrift  was 
upheld  through  this  dark  time.— And  here, 

[i.]  It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  towards  the  former  part 
of  this  fpace,  fome  of  the  nations  of  Chriftendom  held 
out  a  long  time  beiore  they  complied  with  the  corrup- 
tions and  ufurpations  of  the  church  of  Rome.     Though 

all 

2.  Arabia,  their  country,  frequently  abounds  with  lociifts  ;  3. 
Loculls  are  bred  in  pits,  they  in  the  infernal  one  ;  4.  In  the  year 
A.  D.  620,  when  Mahomet  was  training  his  dii'clples,  an  Arabian 
hiilorian  mentions  half  the  fun  being  eclipfed  from  Oftober  to 
June  ;  5.  They  fpared  the  trees,  corn  fields,  and  cattle  ;  6.  They 
hurt  only  thofe  Chriftians  v/hich  were  coirupted  by  idolatry  and 
fuperftition.  [See  Bp.  Newton  on  the  Prophecies,  who  has  ad- 
duced fcveral  other  ftriking  particulars,  and  fhown  Mahomet  to  be 
the  Itar,  ver.  i. — vol.  iii.  Dili.  24  ]    ■ 

(r)  Turks  defcr'thed  as  horjemcu.'^  For  this  they  were  re- 
markable— confilttd  of  four  fultanies  or  kingdoms — their  ftan- 
dards  red,  yellow,  and  blue,  and  about  this  time  invented  great 
guns  and  gunpowder,  {JSlcnvton  on  the  Proph.  vol.  iii.  Difl".  24.] 


TO   THE    FALL  OF   ANTICHRIST.       441 

all  the  world  wondered  after  the  beaft,  yet  all  nations  did 
not  fall  in  at  once.  Many  of  the  principal  corruptions  of 
the  church  of  Rome  were  brought  in  with  a  great  deal  of 
ftruggle  and  oppofition  ;  and  particularly,  when  the  Pope 
gave  out,  that  he  was  univerfal  bifliop,  many  churches 
greatly  oppofed  him  in  it ;  and  it  was  a  long  time  before 
they  would  yield  to  his  exorbitant  claims.*-  And  fo,  when 
the  worfhip  of  images  was  firft  brought  into  the  churches, 
there  were  many  who  greatly  oppofed  it.f  And  the  fame 
•with  refpeft  to  other  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
Thofe  people  that  dwelt  near  to  the  city  of  Rome  complied 
fooner,  but  fome  that  were  more  remote,  were  a  long  time 
before  they  could  be  induced  to  put  their  necks  under  the 
yoke  :  and  particularly  ecclefiaftical  hiftory  gives  an  ac- 
count, that  it  w^as  fo  with  great  part  of  the  churches  in 
England,  and  Scotland,  and  France,  who  retained  the 
ancient  purity  of  dovSlrine  and  worfliip  much  longer  than 
many  others,  who  were  nearer  the  chief  feat  of  anti- 
chrift.t 

[2.]  In  every  age  of  this  dark  time,  there  appeared 
particular  perfons  in  ail  parts  of  Chriftendom,  who  bore 
a  teftimony  againil  the  corruptions  and  tyranny  of  the 
church  of  Rome.  There  is  no  one  age  of  antichrift,  even 
in  the  darkeft;  times,  but  ecclefiaftical  hiftorians  mention 
many  who  manifefted  an  abhorrence  of  the  Pope,  and  his 
idolatrous  worlhip,  and  pleaded  for  the  ancient  purity  of 
do6lrine  and  worfhip.  God  was  pleafcd  to  maintain  an 
uninterrupted  fucceflion  of  witnefles,  through  the  whole 
time,  in  Germany,  France,  Britain,  and  other  countries. 
Many  of  them  were  private  perfons,  many  minifters,  and 
fome    magiftrates,    and    perfons    of  dift:in6lion.    (s)      And 

there 

*  Binghani'!,  Antiq.  book  ix.  chap.  l.  §  11.  and  Barrotu  on  the 
Supremacy. 

f  Dupins  Eccl.  Hift.  Cent.  viii.  chap.  i. 

X   See  the  following  Note. 

(s)  God  bad  witnesses  w  every  age.']  This  is  largely  proved 
by  a  learned  prelate,  to  whom  thcfe  notes  have  often  been  indebted, 
the  late  Bp.  oi  Brljlol  [on  the  Prophecies,  Dif.  xxiv.  Part  i.]  and 
the  late  ingenious  Mr.  Toplady,   [Hiftoric  Proof  of  tl.e  Calv.  of 

3   L  ■    the 


442  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

there  were  numbers  in  every  age  who  were  perfecuted  and 
put  to  death  for  this  teftimony. 

[3.]  Befides  particular  perfons  difperfed  here  and  there, 
there   was  a   certain  people,    called   the   Waldenfes,    who 

lived 

the  Ch.  of  Eng.  vol.  i.  p.  149 — 212.]  from  whom  the  following 
iiamcB  are  fekfted  under  the  different  centuries  : 

Cent.  VII.  In  this  age  the  doftrine  of  the  Roman  church  began 
to  be  effentially  and  generally  corrupt ;  yet,  however,  the  Pope 
had  not  commenced  a  temporal  prince,  and  the  illuftrious  names 
that  hiftory  preferves,  are  too  many  to  be  particularized. 

Cent.  VIII.  Several  councils  in  this  century  were  held  in  op- 
pofition  to  the  growing  errors  of  popery,  particularly  tranfubftan- 
tiaticn,  and  the  worfliip  of  faints  and  images.  The  beginning  of 
this  century  the  famous  ^/cuin,  an  Englifliman,  wrote  in  the  name 
of  the  Britifh  bifliops,  and  others,  to  Charles  the  Great,  protefting 
againll  thefe  errors.  At  this  time  alfo  flourifhed  the  venerable 
Berle,  who  with  his  dying  breath  finiflied  his  Tranflation  of  St. 
John's  Gofpel. 

Cent.  IX.  Not  to  mention  the  exertions  of  feveral  princes,  both 
in  the  eaft  and  weR,  againft  the  increafing  tyranny  of  the  Popes, 
and  the  vices  and  herelies  of  his  clergy  :  among  the  divines  who 
boldly  oppofed  popery,  were  jlgobard,  Abp.  of  Lyons,  who  wrote 
againit  pidlures  and  images,  and  maintained  the  doctrine  of  one 
mediator.  Maurus,  Abp.  of  Mentz,  and  the  celebrated  Bertram^ 
(or  Ratramnus,  as  feme  call  him)  and  even  Scutus,  wrote  againft. 
tranfubftantiation.  Angilbertm,  Ah^^.  of  Milan,  refiftedthe  Pope's 
fupremacy  ;  Claude,  bifhop  of  Turin,  afferted  the  principal  articles 
of  the  proteftant  faith  ;  and  Gottefchalus,  a  pious  monk,  not  only 
preached,  but  fuffered  in  their  defence. 

Cent.  X.  Which  even  Baron'ivs  calls  an  Won  and  even  a  leaden 
age,  produced  fome  councils  and  writers  in  oppofitlon  to  various 
branches  of  popery  ;  among  the  latter,  Alfric,  Abp.  of  Canter- 
bury, was  one  of  the  moft  eminent ;  and  Gerbert,  Abp.  of  Rheims, 
went  fo  far  as  to  call  the  Vo-^t  antic hrifl,  although  afterwards  (fo 
frail  is  human  nature  !)  himfclfafcended  the  papal  chair. 

Cent.  XI.  Some  pretended  heretics  at  Orleans  in  France  de- 
nied many  of  the  popifli  errors;  and,  asDupin  fays,  found  fault 
with  moft  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  church.  Bcrengar'ius  wrote 
profeffedly  againft  tranfubftantiation  and  the  church  of  Rome. 

Cent.  XII.  Many  now  began  to  efteem  the  Pope,  antichrlft. 
Pdter  and  Hairy  de  Bruis,  and  Arnold,  of  Brefcia,  fuffered  mar- 
tyrdom for  the  like  opinions.  The  Waldenfes  now  arofe  to  gene- 
ral notice,  and  from  thence  may  be  dated  the  dawn  of  the  refor- 
mation. 

Cent.  XIIL  To  leave  the  Waldenfes  for  a  following  note,  and 
ihofc  leffcr  ftar?  which  now  began  to  be  pretty  numerous  in  moft 

..j^arts 


TO   THE    FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.       443 

lived  feparate  from  all  the  reft  of  the  world,  who  kept 
themfelves  pure,  and  conftantly  bore  a  teftimony  againft 
the  church  of  Rome  through  all  this  dark  time.  The 
place  where  they  dwelt  was  the  Vaudois,  or  the  five  val- 
leys of  Piedmont,  a  very  mountainous  country,  between 
Italy  and  France.  The  place  where  they  lived  was  com- 
pafTcd  about  with  thofe  exceeding  high  mountains  called 
the  Alps,  which  were  almoft  impaffable.  The  paflasje 
over  thefe  mountainous  defert  countries  was  fo  difficult, 
that  the  valleys  where  this  people  dwelt  were  almoft  inac- 
ceflible.  There  this  people  lived  for  many  ages,  as  it  were, 
alone,  in  a  ftate  of  feparation  from  all  the  world,  having 
very  little  to  do  with  any  other  people  ;  and  there  they 
ferved  God  in  the  ancient  purity  of  his  worfliip,  and  never 
fubmitted  to  the  church  of  Rome.  This  place,  in  this 
defert  mountainous  country,  probably  was  the  place  efpe- 
cially  alluded  to  in  tlie  xiith  chapter  of  Revelation,  [verfe 
6.]  as  the  place  prepared  of  God  for  the  woman,  that  they 
ihould  feed  her  there  during  the  reign  of  antichrift. 

'  Some  of  the  popifli  writers  themfelves  own,  that  this 
people  never  fubmitted  to  the  church  of  Rome.  One  of 
the  popilh  writers,  fpcaking  of  the  Waldenfes,  fays,  The 
herefy  of  the  Waldenfes  is  the  oldeft  herefy  in  the  world.* 
It  is  fuppofed  that  this  people  firft  betook  themfelves  to 
this  dciertlccret  place  among  the  mountains,  to  hide  them- 
felves from  the  fcverity  of  the  heathen  pcrfecutions  which 
were  before  Conftantine  the  Great :  and  thus  the  woman 
fled  into  the  wildcrnefs  from  the  face  of  the  ferpcnt.  [Rev. 
xii.  6.]  And  fo,  [verfe  14.]  '  And  to  the  woman  were 
'  given  two  wings  of  a  great  eagle,  tliat  Ihe  might  fly  into 
'  the  wildernefs,  into  her  place  ;   where   flic   is  nouriflied 

3  L  2  .        '  for 

parts  of  Europe,  our  own  country  in  this  age  produced  two  very 
illuftrious  charafters,  Grojlhcad,  bifhop  of  Lincoln,  and  Bradwar- 
dine,  Abp.  of  Canterbury. 

Cent.  XIV.  Produced  Tl^icllif  and  the  Lollards  ;  and  from  that 
time  God  has  raifcd  up  a  numerous  and  illuftrious  company  of 
wltnefTes  in  every  fucceeding  age,  which,  though  they  have  been 
perfecuted  and  opprelTed  in  every  poffible  {hape,  have  never  been 
Jilenced  or  fubducd.  [L  N.J 

*  Rclturlus  cont.  Haeret.  cap.  4. 


444        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  for  a  time,  and  timec,  and  half  a  time,  from  the  face  of 
'  the  ferpent.'  And  the  people  being  there  fettled,  their 
poftcrity  continued  there  from  age  to  age  afterwards  :  and 
being,  as  it  were,  by  natural  walls,  as  well  as  by  God's 
grace,  feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  never  partook 
of  the  overflowing  corruption. 

Thefe,  efpecially,  v/ere  thofe  virgins  wlio  were  not 
defiled  with  women  ;  nor  when  other  women  proflituted 
themfelves  and  were  defiled  ;  but  they  kept  themfelves  pure 
for  Chrift  alone  ;  tl^ey  followed  the  Lamb,  their  fpiritual 
hufband,  whetherfoever  he  went  ;  they  followed  him  into 
this  hideous  v/ildernefs.  [Rev,  xiv.  4,  5.]  Their  do6lrine 
and  their  worfhip,  by  the  accounts  which  remain  of  them, 
appear  to  be  the  fame  with  the  proteftant  dodlrine  and 
worfliip  ;  and  by  the  confeffion  of  popiHi  writers,  they 
were  a  people  remarkable  for  the  ftriclnefs  of  their  lives, 
for  charity,  and  other  chriftian  virtues,  (t)  They  lived 
in  external  poverty  in  this  hideous  country  ;  but  they  chofe 
this  rather  than  to  comply  with  the  great  corruptions  of  tlie 
reft  of  the  world. 

They  living  in  fo  fecret  a  place,  it  was  a  long  time  be- 
fove  they  feem  to  have  been  much  taken  notice  of  by  the 
Romanifts  ;  but  at  laft  falling  under  obfervation,  they  went 

out 

(t)  The  DOCTRINE  of  ibe  Ancient  Waldenses.]  "Accord- 
ing to  PiUchdorJJliis  the  IVaUeufa  themfelves  carried  up  the  date  of 
their  commencement,  as  a  body,  to  about  the  year  637.  For  my 
own  part,  (fays  Mr.  Top  lady)  I  agree  with  fomc  of  our  oldeft 
and  bed  proteftant  divines  ....  that  the  uninterrupted  fucceffion 
of  the  apoftolic  doftrine  continued  with  them  from  the  primitive 
times,  quite  down  to  the  reformation  ;  foon  after  which  period, 
they  feem  to  have  been  melted  down  in  the  common  mafs  of  pro- 
teftants."      [Hiftoric  Proof,  vol.  i.  p.  149,  &c.J 

From  an  ancient  confeffion  of  their  faith,  and  other  authentic 
teRimonieSi  it  appears  that  they  acknowledged  the  apoflles  creed, 
believed  the  doftrincs  of  the  trinity,  original  fin,  falvation  by 
Chrill  alone,  the  fufnciency  of  the  fcriptures,  of  which  they  re- 
ceived the  fame  books  that  we  do ;  and  that  they  rejedted  the 
Pope's  fupremacy,  purgatory,  five  faj:raments,  prayers  for  the 
dead,  malFcs,  vows  of  celibacy,  monkery,  pilgrimages,  the  wor- 
jhipping  of  faints,  and  other  popifli  tenets. 

[Sec  liift.  Ecclef.  Magdeburg,  vol.  iii.  Cent.  XII.  cap.  8.  and 
Perrin's  Hiilory,  vol.  i.  cap.  8.j 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        445 

e-ut  in  mighty  annics  againfl:  them,  and  fell  upon  them  with 
infatiable  cruelty,  barbaroufly  maffacring  and  putting  to 
death,  men,  women,  and  children,  with  all  imaginable 
tortures  ;  and  lo  continued  perfecuting  them  with  but  little 
intermiflion  for  feveral  hundred  years  ;  by  which  means 
many  of  them  weie  driven  out  of  their  old  habitations  in 
the  vallies  of  Piedmont,  and  fled  into  all  parts  of  Europe, 
carrying  with  them  their  doftrinc,  to  which  many  were 
converted,  (u)  But  their  perfccutors  could  not  by  all 
their  cruelties  extirpate  the  church  of  God  ;  fo  fulfilling  his 
word,  '  that  the  gates  of  hell  fhovild  not  prevail  againft  it.' 

[4.]  Towards  the  latter  part  of  this  dark  time,  feve- 
ral eminent  divines  openly  appeared  to  defend  the  truth, 
and  bear  teftimony  againft  the  corruptions  of  the  church 
of  Rome,  and  had  many  followers.  The  firft  and  prin- 
cipal of  thefe  was  a  certain  Englilh  divine,  whofe  name 
was  'John  IVickllff',  who  appeared  about  140  years  before 
the  Reformation,  and  ftrenuoully  oppofing  the  popiih  re- 
ligion, taught  the  fame  do6trine  that  the  Reformers  af- 
terwards did,  and  had  many  followers  in  England.  He 
was  hotly   pcrfecuted   in  his  lifetime,  yet  died   in  peace ; 

and 

( u )  IVaUenfes greatly  persecuted.]  "  Againft  the  Waldenjesy 
(faith  a  candid  popifh  hiftorian)  when  exquifite  punlfliments  availed 
little,  and  the  evil  was  exafperated  by  the  remedy  which  had  been 
unfcafonably  applied,  and  their  number  increafed  daily,  at  length 
complete  armies  were  raifed,  and  a  war  of  no  Icfs  weight  than  what 
our  people  had  before  waged  againft  the  Saracens,  was  decreed 
ngainft  them  :  the  event  of  which  was,  that  they  were  rather  flain, 
put  to  flight,  fpolled  every  where  of  their  goods  and  dignities, 
than  that  convinced  of  their  error  they  repented.  So  that  .... 
they  fled  into  Provence  and  the  neighbouring  Alps  of  the  French 
territory  .....  Part  withdrew  into  Calabria,  and  continued  there 
a  long  while  ....  part  pafied  into  Germany,  and  fixed  their  abode 
among  the  Bohemians,  and  in  Poland  and  Livonia  ;  others  turn- 
ing to  the  weft,  obtained  refuge  in  Britain." 

[Thuan'us  in  Prvrf.  ad  Hen.  IV.] 

It  is  related,  that  in  tliefc  wars  w iicn  the  paplfts  took  the  city 
of  Beziers,  they  put  to  the  Avord  above  6o,coo  perfons,  among 
whom  were  many  of  their  own  profefTion  ;  the  Pope's  legate  cry- 
ing, ♦'  Kill  them  all,  for  the  Lord  knowcth  rhem  that  arc  his." 

{Pet.  HIP;.  Alb.  c.  1  :•,  l8,'&  feq.] 


446        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

and  after  he  was  buried,  his  bones  were  dug  up  by  his  per- 
fecutors  and  burnt.  His  followers  remained  in  confider- 
able  numbers  in  England  till  the  Reformation,  and  were 
cruelly  perfecuted,  and  multitudes  put  to  death  for  their 
religion. 

WickUff  had  many  difciples  and  followers,  not  only  in 
England,  but  in  other  parts  of  Europe,  whither  his  books 
were  carried  ;  and  particularly  in  Bohemia,  among  whom 
were  two  eminent  divines,  John  Hufs,  and  yerom  a  divine 
of  Prague,  the  chief  city  of  Bohemia.  Thefe  ftrenuoufly 
oppofed  the  church  of  Rome,  and  had  many  who  adhered 
to  them.  They  were  both  burnt  by  the  papifts,  for  their 
do6trine  ;  (w)  and  their  followers  in  Bohemia  were  cru- 
elly perfecuted,  but  never  extirpated  till  the  Reformation, 
—Thus  having  gone  through  this  dark  time  of  the  church, 
which  is  the  fccond  part  of  the  fpacc  from  Conftantine  the 
Great  to  the  dcfl:ru£lion  of  antichrift,   I  come  now, 

5.  To  the  third  part,  viz.  that  which  begins  with  the 
Reformation,  and  reaches  to  the  prefent  time.  And  here 
I  would,  (i.)  Speak  of  the  Reformation  itfelf ;  (2.)  The 
oppoiition  that  the  devil  has  made  to  the  Reformed  church  ; 
(3')  What  fuccefs  the  gofpel  has  lately  had  in  one  place 
and  anotlier;  (4)  The  prefent  flate  of  things  in  the  church 
ofChrift. 

(i.)  Here  the  firft  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  the 
Reformation.  This  was  begun  about  220  years  ago  :  firlt 
in  Saxony  in  Germany,  by  the  preaching  oi  Afart'in  Luther, 
who,  being  ftirred  in   his  fpirit  to  fee  the  horrid  pra6lices 

of 

(w)  Yiv 5%  burned.']  A  very  remarkable  exprelTion  is  attributed 
to  this  martyr  in  the  article  of  death.  Addreffing  himfelf  to  the 
popirti  clergy  then  prefent,  he  faid,  Ye  fliall  anfwer  for  this  an 
hundred  years  hence  both  to  God  and  me.  And  fome  tell  us  that 
he  added,  "  You  roaft  the  Goofe  now,  but  a  Sivan  fliall  arife  whom 
you  fliall  not  be  able  to  burn  as  you  do  the  poor  weak  Goofe." 
Now  Hufs  in  the  Boliemia  language  fjgnifies  a  Goofe,  as  Luther 
does  a  Sii'an  ;  and  jufl  an  hundred  ye^vs  after  Luther  rifes  up,  and 
gives  them  a  deeper  wound  than  ever  they  had  yet  received,  as  it 
were,  requiring  the  bhjod  of  Hufs  and  Jerom  of  them  ;  and  we 
know  that  the  Swan  could  never  be  taken,  but  dies  in  her  iieil." 

[Bennet's  Mem.  p.  38.] 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        447 

of  the  popifh  clergy,  and  having  fet  himfelf  diligently  to 
inquire  after  truth,  by  the  ftudy  of  the  holy  fcriptures,  and 
the  writings  of  the  ancient  fathers  of  the  church,  openly 
and  boldly  decried  the  corruptions  and  ufurpations  of  the 
Romilh  church  in  his  preaching  and  writings,  and  had 
foon  a  great  number  that  fell  in  with  his  do£lrines  ;  among 
whom  was  the  EleiSlor  of  Saxony,  his  fovereign  prince. 
This  greatly  alarmed  the  church  of  Rome  ;  which  did  as 
it  were  rally  all  its  forces  to  oppofe  him  and  his  doctrine, 
and  fierce  wars  and  perfecutions  were  raifed  againfl:  it  :  but 
yet  it  went  on  by  the  labours  of  Luther,  and  Melan6thoa 
in  Germany,  Zuinglius  in  Switzerland,  and  other  eminent 
divines,  who  were  contemporary  with  Luther,  and  fell  in 
with  him;  and  partic\alarly  Calvin,  who  appeared  fome- 
what  after  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation,  but  was  one 
of  the  moft  eminent  Reformers. 

Many  of  the  princes  of  Germany  foon  fell  in  with  the 
reformed  religion,  as  did  feveral  other  flates  and  kingdoms 
in  Europe,  as  England,  Scotland,  Sweden,  Denmark,  Nor- 
way, great  part  of  France,  Poland,  Lithuania,  Switzer- 
land, and  the  Low  Countries.  So  that  it  is  thought,  that 
heretofore  about  half  Chriftendom  were  of  the  ProteOant 
religion  ;  though,  fmce  that  time  the  Papifls  perhaps  have 
gained  ground  ;  fo  that  the  Proteftants  now  have  not  fo 
great  a  proportion. 

Thus  God  began  glorioufly  to  revive  his  church  and 
advance  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  after  fuch  a  difmal  night 
as  had  been  from  the  rife  of  anticlirift  to  that  time.  There 
had  been  many  endeavours  ufed  before  by  the  witneflcs 
of  the  truth  for  a  reformation  before.  But  now,  when 
God's  appointed  time  was  come,  his  work  was  begun, 
and  went  on  with  a  fvvift  and  wonderful  progrefs ;  and 
antichrift,  who  had  been  rifing  higher  and  higher  from 
Jiis  very  firfl;  beginning  till  that  time,  was  fwiftly  and 
fuddenly  brought  down,  and  fell  half  way  towards  utter 
ruin,  and  never  has  been  able  to  rile  again  to  his  former 
height.  A  late  expofitor,  IVIr.  Loivman  (who  explains  the 
five  firfl;  vials  in  the  xvith  chapter  of  the  Revelation,  with 
greater   probability   perhaps   tlian    any   wlio    went   before 

him.1 


448        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

him,)  underftands  die  fifth  vial,  which  was  poured  out  or; 
the  feat  of  the  beafi:,  of  what  came  to  pafs  in  the  refor- 
mation ;  as  he  had  done  the  four  preceding  vials  of  certain 
great  judgments  God  brought  on  the  popifh  dominions 
before  the  reformation.  It  is  faid,  [ver.  lo.]  tliat  '  the 
'  fifth  angel  poured  out  his  vial  on  the  feat  of  the  bead  ;' 
in  the  original,  it  is  the  throne  of  tlie  beaft  ;*  '  and  his 
'  kingdom  was  full  of  darknefs,  and  they  gnawed  their 
'  tongues  for  pain,  and  blafphemed  the  God  of  heaven 
*  becaufe  of  their  pains  and  their  fores,  and  repented  not 
'  of  their  deeds.'  He  poured  out  liis  vial  upon  the  throne 
of  the  beaft,  i.  c.  on  the  authority  and  dominion  of  the 
Pope  :  thus  the  word  throne  is  often  ufed  in  fcripture  ;  fo 
(i  Kings,  i.  37.)  'As  the  Lord  hath  been  with  my  lord 
'  the  king,  even  fo  be  he  with  Solomon,  and  make  his 
'  throne  greater  than  the  throne  of  my  Lord  King  David  :' 
i.  c.  make  his  dominion  and  authority  greater,  and  his 
kingdom  more  glorious. 

But  now,  in  the  reformation,  the  vials  of  God's  wrath 
were  poured  out  on  the  throne  of  the  beaft.  His  throne 
was  terribly  fliaken  and  diminiflied.  The  Pope's  autho- 
rity and  dominion  were  greatly  diminiflied,  both  as  to  the 
extent  and  degree.  He  loft,  as  was  faid  before,  about 
half  his  dominions.  And  ftnce  the  Reformation,  tlie 
Pope  has  loft  great  part  of  that  authority,  even  in  the 
popifti  dominions,  which  he  had  before.  He'  is  not  re- 
garded, and  his  power  is  dreaded  in  no  meafure  as  it  was 
wont  to  be.  The  powers  of  Europe  have  learned  not  to 
put  their  necks  under  the  Pope's  feet,  as  formerly  they 
were  wont  to  do.  So  that  he  is  as  a  lion  that  has  loft 
his  teeth,  in  comparifon  of  what  he  was  once.  And 
when  the  Pope  and  his  clergy,  enraged  to  fee  their  autho- 
rity fo  diminiflied  at  the  Reformation,'  laid  their  heads 
together,  and  joined  tlieir  forces  to  deftroy  the  Reforma- 
tion ;  tlicir  policy,  whicli  was  wont  to  ferve  them  fo  well, 
failed,  and  they  found  their  kingdom  full  of  darknefs,  io 
that  they  could  do  nothing,  any  more  than  the  Egyptians, 

who 

*  E?rt  roil  S^oK>>  Sijftii. 


TO    THE    FALL   OF   ANTICHRIST.       449 

who  rofe  not  from  their  feats  for  three  days.  The  Re- 
formed church  was  defended  as  Lot  and  the  angels  were 
in  vSodom,  by  fmiting  their  enemies  with  blindnefs,  that 
they  could  not  find  the  door.  God  then  fulfilled  that  word 
[Job.  V.  II,  &c.]    *  To  fct  up  on  high  thofe  that  be  low  ; 

*  that  thofe  which  mourn   may  be  exalted  to  fafety.     He 

*  difappointeth  the  devices  of  the  crafty,  fo  that  their 
'  hands  cannot  perform  their  enterprife.  He  taketh  the 
'  wife  in  their  own  craftincfs  :  and  the  council  of  the  fro- 
'  ward  is  carried  headlong.     They  meet  with  darknefs  in 

*  the  day  time,  and  grope  in  the  noon  day  as  in  the  night. 
'  But  he  faveth  the  poor  from  the  fword,  from  their  mouth, 
'  and  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty.' — Thefe  proud 
enemies  of  God's  people  being  fo  difappointed,  and  finding 
themfelves  fo  unable  to  uphold  their  own  dominion  and 
authority,  this  made  them  as  it  were  to  gnaw  their  tongues 
for  pain  and  rage. 

(2.)  I  proceed,  therefore,  to  fhow  what  oppojitlon  has 
been  made  to  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  in  the  Re- 
formation by  Satan  and  his  adherents  ;  obferving,  as  we 
go  along,  how  far  they  have  been  baffled,  and  how  far  they 
have  been  fuccefsful. 

[i.]  The  firft  oppofition  that  I  rtiall  take  notice  of,  is 
that  which  was  made  by  the  clergy  of  the  church  of  Rome 
uniting  together  in  a  general  council.  This  was  the  fa- 
mous council  of  Trent,  which  the  Pope  called  alittle  while 
after  the  Reformation.  In  that  council,  there  met  together 
fix  cardinals,  thirty-two  archbifliops,  two  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  bifhops,  befides  innumerable  others  of  the 
Romifii  clergy.  This  council,  in  all  their  fittings,  in- 
cluding the  times  of  intcrmiiTion  between,  was  held  for 
eighteen  years  together.  Their  main  bufinefs  all  this 
while  was  to  concert  meafures  for  cftablifhing  the  church 
of  Rome  againft  the  Reformers,  and  for  deftroying  the 
Reformation.*  But  it  proved  that  they  were  not  able  to 
perform  their  enterprife.  The  Reformed  church,  notwith- 
ftanding  that  council,   ftill  remains.     So  that  the  council 

3  M  of 

*  See  Father  Paul's  Hlft.  of  this  Council, 


4^0        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

of  the  frovvard  is  carried   headlong,  their  kingdom  is  full 
of  darknefs,  and  they  weary  themfelves  ia  vain. 

Thus  the  church  of  Rome,  inftead  of  repenting  of 
their  deeds  when  fuch  clear  light  was  held  forth  to  them 
by  Luther  and  other  Reformers,  does,  by  general  agree- 
ment in  council,  perlift  in  their  vile  corruptions  and 
wickednefs,  and  obftinate  oppotition  to  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift.  The  doctrines  and  pra6tices  of  the  church  of 
Rome,  which  were  chiefly  condemned  by  the  Reformed, 
were  confirmed  by  the  decrees  of  this  council :  and  the 
corruptions,  in  many  refpedts,  were  carried  higher  than 
ever  before ;  and  they  uttered  blafphemous  reproaches  and 
curfes  again  ft  the  reformed  religion,  and  all  the  Re- 
formed church  was  excommunicated  and  anathematized 
by  them  ;  and  fo  according  to  the  prophecy,  '  they  blaf- 
'  phemed  God.'  Thus  God  heardened  their  hearts,  intend- 
ing todeflroy  them. 

[2.]  The  Papifts  have  often  endeavoured  to  over- 
throw the  Reformation  by  kcret.  plots  and  confplracies.  So 
there  were  many  plots  againfl:  the  life  of  Luther.  The 
Papifts  were  engaged  in  contriving  to  difpatch  him,  and 
to  put  him  out  of  the  way;  and  he,  as  he  was  a  very 
bold  man,  often  very  much  expofed  himfelf  in  the  caufc 
of  Chrift  ;  but  yet  they  were  wonderfully  prevented  from 
hurting  him,  and  he  at  laft  died  in  his  bed  in  peace. 
And  fo  there  have  been  from  time  to  time  innumerable 
fchemes  fecretly  laid  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Protcftant 
religion  ;  among  which,  that  which  feems  to  be  moft  con- 
fiderable,  and  which  feemed  to  be  the  moft  likely  to 
have  taken  effedt,  was  that  in  the  time  of  King  James  IL 
ot  England,  which  is  within  the  memory  of  many  of  us. 
There  was  at  that  time  a  ftrong  confpiracy  between  the 
King  of  England  and  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  who  were 
both  Papifts,  to  extirpate  the  Northern  herefy,  as  they 
called  the  Proteftant  religion,  not  only  out  of  England, 
but  out  of  all  Europe  ;  and  had  laid  their  fchemes  fo,  that 
they   feemed  to  be  almoft  fure  of  their  purpofe.*     They 

looked 

*  See  Rapin's  Hift^of  Eng.  v.  xv,  p.  162,  &c. 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        451 

looked  upon  it,  that  if  the  Reformed  religion  were  fup- 
preffed  in  the  Britilh  reahns,  and  in  the  Netherlands, 
which  were  the  arongefl  part,  and  the  chief  defence  of  the 
Proteftant  intereft,  they  fliould  have  eafy  work  with  the 
reft.  And  juft  as  their  matters  feemed  to  be  come  to  a 
head,  and  their  enterprife  ripe  for  execution,  God,  in  hii 
providence,  fuddenly  dailied  all  thefe  fchenies  in  pieces 
by  the  Revolution,  at  the  coming  in  of  King  William  and 
Queen  Mary  :  by  which  all  thefe  defigns  were  at  an  end  ; 
and  the  Proteftant  intereft  was  more  ftrongly  eftablifhed, 
by  the  crown  of  England's  being  eftablillied  in  the  Protef- 
tant Houfe  of  Hanover,  and  a  Papift,  by  the  conftitution 
of  the  nation,  for  ever  rendered  incapable  of  wearing  the 
crown  of  England.  Thus  they  groped  in  darknefs  at  noon 
day  as  in  the  night,  and  their  hands  could  not  perform  their 
enterprife ;  their  kingdom  was  full  of  darknefs,  and  they 
gnawed  their  tongues  for  pain. 

After  this,  there  was  a  deep  defignlaid  to  bring  the  fame 
thing  to  pafs  in  the  latter  end  of  Queen  Anne's  reign,  by 
the  bringing  in  of  the  PopiOi  pretender  ;  which  was  no 
lefs  fuddenly  and  totally  baffled  by  divine  Providence  ;  as 
the  plots  againft  the  Reformation,  by  bringing  in  the  pre- 
tender, have  been  from  time  to  time.* 

[3.]  The  Reformation  has  often  been  oppofed  by  open 
wars  and  invafions.  So  in  the  beginning  of  the  Refor- 
rnation,  the  emperor  of  Germany,  to  fupprefs  tiie  Re- 
formation declared  war  with  tlie  duke  of  Saxony,  and 
the  principal  men  who  favt)ured  and  received  Luther's 
doafine.  But  they  could  not  obtain  their  end;  they 
could  not  fupprefs  the  Reformation.  For  the  fame  end, 
the  King  of  Spain  maintained  a  long  war  with  Hol- 
land and"  the  Low  Countries  in  the  century  before  laft. 
But  thofc  cruel  wars  iffued  greatly  to  the  difadvantage  of 
the  RomiOi  church,  as  they  occafioned  the  fetting  up  of 
one  cf  the  moft  powerful  Proteftant  ftates  in  Europe, 
which,  next  to  Great  Britain,  are  the  chief  barrier  of  the 
Proteftant  religion. t     And  the  defign  of  the  SpaniUi  in- 

3  M  2  vafion 

*  Bennet's  Memorial  370,  &c.  f  Viz.  Holland. 


452        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

vafion  of  England  In  Queen  Elizabeth's  time,  was  to  fup- 
prefs  and  root  out  the  Reformed  relif^ion :  and  therefore 
they  brought  in  their  fleet  all  manner  of  inftruments  of 
cruelty  wherewith  to  torture  the  Proteftants  who  would 
not  renounce  their  religion.  But  their  defign  was  to- 
tally baffled,  and  their  mighty  fleet  in  a  great  meafure 
ruined,  (x) 

[4.]  Satan  has  oppofed  the  Reformation  with  cruel 
perfecution.  The  perfecutions  with  which  the  Proteftants 
in  one  kingdom  and  another  have  been  tormented  by  the 
church  of  Rome,  have  been  in  many  refpecls  beyond  anv 
that  were  before.  So  that  antichrift:  has  proved  the  greateft 
and  moft  cruel  enemy  the  church  of  Chrifl:  ever  had, 
agreeable  to  the  defcription  given  of  the  church  of  Rome, 
[Rev.  xvii.  6.]  '  And  I  faw  the  woman  drunken  with  the 
'  blood  of  the  faints,  and  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs 
'  of  Jefus.'  And  [chap,  xviii.  24.]  '  And  in  her  was 
'  found  the  blood  of  prophets,  and  of  faints,  and  of  all  them 
'  that  were  flain  upon  the  earth.' 

The 

(x)  The  Spani/Jj  Armada.]  *'  There  was  fo  much  of  Provi- 
dence (our  enemies  themfelves  being  judges)  in  it  [the  defeat  of 
this  fleet]  that  the  Spaniih  admiral,  the  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonia, 
blafphemoufly  fwore  that  he  feared  Jefus  Chrift  was  turned  Lu- 
theran ;  nay,  the  king  of  Spain  himfelf  hearing  of  this  ftrange  de- 
feat of  his  fleet,  faw  fo  evidently  the  finger  of  God 'in  this  difap- 
pointment,  that  he  is  reported  to  have  faid.  He  did  not  fend  his 
fleet  to  fi<jht  againft  God,  butagainfl  men."   [Bennei's  Mem.  122.] 

Don  Pedro,  one  of  the  Spaniih  captains  taken  by  Sir  F.  Drake, 
being  examined  before  the  Lords  of  the  privy  council  what  was 
their  defign  of  invading  us,  replied,  "  To  fubdue  the  nation  and 
root  it  out."  And  what  meant  you,  faid  the  Lords,  to  do  with  the 
Catholics  ?  "  To  fend  them,  good  men,  faid  he,  direflly  to  heaven, 
as  all  you  heretics  to  hell."  For  what  end.  were  your  whips  of 
cord  and  wire  ?  ^'  To  whip  you  heretics  to  death."  What  would 
you  have  done  with  the  young  children  ?  "  They  above  feven 
years  old  fhould  have  gone  the  way  their  fathers  went ;  the  reft 
fliould  have  lived  in  perpetual  bondage,  branded  in  the  forehead 
with  the  letter  L  for  Lutherans."  [Account  of  the  Span.  Inva- 
fion,  piiWifhed  1739.] 

N.  B.  The  inftruments  of  torture  above  alluded  to,  as  thumb- 
fcrews,  whips,  &c.  are  ftill  fliewn  among  other  curiofities  in  the 
Tower  of  London. 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        453 

The  heathen  perfecutions  had  been  very  dreadful ;  but 
now  perfecuti.^n  by  the  cliurch  of  Rome  was  improved, 
and  ftudied,  and  cultivared  as  an  art  or  fcience.  Such 
methods  of  tormenting  were  found  out  that  were  beyond 
the  invention  of  former  ages.  And,  that  perfecution 
might  be  managed  more  efFc6tually,  there  were  certain 
focieties  eflablifhcd  in  various  parts  of  the  Popifli  domi- 
nions, whofe  bufinefs  if  Ihouhl  be  to  fludy,  improve,  and 
pradlife  perfecution  in  its  higheft  perfe6fion,    (y)   which 

are 

(y)  Courts  of  IsQtTisiTiON.]  Thefe  infernal  tribunals  were 
firft  erefted  in  the  twelfth  century  by  the  infamous  Father  Domi- 
nic, under  the  patronage  of  Pope  Innocent  HI.  in  order  more  com- 
pletely to  extirpate  the  Waldenfes,  and  other  pretended  heretics. 
It  is  difficult  to  conceive,  that  if  God  had  delivered  the  world  en- 
tirely into  the  devil's  hands  (as  Satan  once  pretended)  that  his  in- 
genuity and  malice  could  have  invented  any  thing  more  deteftable 
and  fliocking.  In  fa6t,  theie  is  fcarcely  a  method  that  could  delay 
or  pervert  juftice,  but  they  have  adopted  it  in  their  forms ;  nor 
does  there  feem  a  poffible  method  of  torture  but  they  have  in- 
vented and  repeatedly  exercifed.  The  reader  whofe  nerves  can 
bear  fuch  reiterated  fcenes  of  cruelty,  may  read  Bal'er^s  Hift.  of 
the  Inqulfition — the  Hiftory  of  the  Inquif.  at  Goa,  written  by  a 
Papifl; — and  fimilar  works  :  but  to  fhew  how  far  it  is  poffible  for 
human  nature  to  go,  let  him  read  the  following  extraft  from  a 
fermon  preached  at  Evora,  on  occafion  of  one  of  the  moft  horrid 
fcenes  the  fun  ever  beheld,  an  aufo  de  fe,  when  they  burn  or  rather 
roaft  heretics  (as  they  call  them)  alive,  from  a  principle  of  reli- 
gion. "  Beloved  Portuguefe,"  faid  the  inhuman  wretch,  "  let  us 
return  thanks  to  heaven,  for  his  great  goodnefs  in  giving  us  this 
holy  tribunal,  [the  Inquifition.]  Had  it  not  been  for  this  tribu- 
nal, our  kingdom  would  have  become  a  tree  without  flowers  or 
fruits,  fit  only  to  be  committed  to  the  flames.  What  progrefs  has 
herefy  made  for  want  of  an  inquifition  In  England,  France,  Ger- 
many, and  the  Netherlands!  It  Is  evident,  had  It  not  been  for/o 
great  a  blcffing  our  country  would  have  been  like  to  thofe  above 
mentioned."  [Sermans  de  Padro  Frcy,  yliitonio  Conthiho,  impreffo 
em  Lefhoa,  anno  1638.]  If  It  be  poffible  to  add  any  thing  more 
fhocking  to  this  impious  haran<:fue,  It  Is,  that  one  of  our  own 
judges.  Sir  J.  HovcJ,  recorder  of  London,  v.Ifhed  for  the  like  In- 
ftltutlon  here  in  England:  "  Till  now,"  faid  he,  on  the  trial  of 
Pcnn  and  Mead,  two  Quakers,  "  I  never  underflood  the  prudence 
and  policy  of  the  Spaniards  In  fufPeringthe  inquifition  among  them. 
And  certainly  It  will  never  be  well  with  us  til!  fometliing  like  the 
SpnniJ}]  inquifition  be  in  Er^land.^'  [^Gen.  DiH.  vol.  viil.  Art. 
Pcnn,   W.] 


454        HISTORY    OF   REDEMPTION. 

ar^  called  the  courts  of  inquijition.  A  perufal  of  the  hif- 
tories  of  the  Pvomilh  perfecution,  and  their  courts  of  in- 
quifition,  will  give  that  idea  which  a  few  words  cannot 
exprefs. 

When  the  Reformation  began,  the  bead  with  fevcn 
heads  and  ten  horns  began  to  rage  in  a  dreadful  manner. 
After  the  Reformation,  the  church  of  Rome  renewed  its 
perfecution  of  the  poor  Waldenles,  and  great  multitudes 
of  them  were  cruelly  tortured  and  put  to  death.  Soon 
after  the  Reformation,  there  were  nifo  terrible  perfecu- 
tions  in  various  parts  of  Germany:  and  efpecially  in  Bo- 
hemia, which  laded  for  thirty  years  together;  in  which 
fo  much  blood  was  fhed  for  the  fake  of  religion,  that  a 
certain  writer  compares  it  to  the  plenty  of  waters  of  the 
great  rivers  of  Germany.  The  countries  of  Poland,  Li- 
thuania, and  Hungary,  were  in  like  manner  deluged  with 
Proteftant  blood,  (z) 

By  means  of  thefe  and  other  cruel  perfecutions,  the 
Proteftant  religion  was  in  a  great  meafure  fupprefled  in 
Bohemia,  and  the  Palatinate  and  Hungary,  which  before 
were  Proteftant  countries.  Thus  was  fulfilled  what  was 
foretold  of  the  little  horn,  [Dan.  vii.  20,  21.]  '  —and  of 
.'  the  ten  horns  that  vi'ere  in  his  head,  and  of  the  other 
'  which  came  up,  and  before  whom  three  fell,  even  of 
'  that  horn  that  had  eyes,    and  a  mouth  that  fpake  very 

*  great  things,  whofe  look  was  more  ftout  than  his  fellows, 

*  I  beheld,  and  the  fame  horn  made  war  with  the  faints, 

*  and  prevailed  againft  them.'  And  what  was  foretold  of 
the  beaft  having  feven  heads  and  ten  horns,  [Rev.  xiii.  7.] 
'  And  it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  iaints, 

'  and 

(2)  Popery  more  cruel  than  Paganlfm.']  **  1£ 'R.omt pagan 
hath  (lain  her  thoufands  of  innocent  Chriftians,  Rome  Chi-yUan 
hath  flain  her  ten  thoufands.  For,  not  to  mention  other  out- 
rageous (laughters  and  barbarities,  the  croifades  againft  the  Wal- 
denfes  and  Albigenfcs,  the  murders  committed  by  the  Duke  of 
Alva  in  the  Netherlands,  the  mafTacies  in  France  and  Ireland,  will 
probably  amount  to  above  ten  times  the  number  of  all  the  Chrif- 
tians flain  in  all  the  ten  perfecutions  of  *the  Roman  emperors  put 
^.ogether."   [Bp.  Newton  on  the  Proph,  vol.  iii.  p.  282.] 


TO   THE  FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.      455 

*  and  to  overcome  them :  and  power  was  given  him  over 

*  all  kindreds,  and  tongues,  and  nations.' 

Alfo  Holland  and  the  other  Low  Countries  were  for 
many  years  a  fcene  of  nothing  but  the  moft  afFe6ling  and 
amazing  cruelties,  being  deluged  with  the  blood  of  Pro- 
teftants,  under  the  mercilefs  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  to 
whom  they  were  then  in  fubje6tion.  But  in  this  pcrfe- 
cution,  the  devil  in  a  great  meafure  failed  of  his  purpofe  ; 
as  it  iffued  in  a  great  part  of  the  Netherlands  carting  off 
the  Spanifli  yoke,  and  fettini,  up  a  wealthy  and  powerful 
Proteftant  ftate,  to  the  great  defence  of  the  Proteftant 
caufe  ever  fmce. 

France  alfo  is  another  country,  which,  fince  the  Re- 
formation, in  fome  refpedls,  perhaps  more  than  any  other, 
has  been  a  fcene  of  dreadful  cruelties  fuffered  by  the  Pro- 
teftants  there.  After  many  cruelties  had  been  exercifed 
towards  the  Proteflants  in  that  kingdom,  there  was  begun 
a  perfecuiion  of  them  in  the  year  157 1,  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  IX.  king  of  France.  It  began  with  a  cruel  maf- 
facre,  wherein  70.000  Proteftants  vvere  flain  in  a  few  days 
time,  as  the  king  boafted  :  and  in  all  this  perfecution,  he 
flew,  as  is  fuppofed,  300,000  martyrs.  And  it  is  reckoned, 
that  about  this  time,  within  thirty  years  there  were  mar- 
tyred in  this  kingdom  for  the  Proteftant  religion,  39  princes, 
148  counts,  234  barons,  147,518  gentlemen,  and  760,000 
of  the  common  people,    (a) 

But  all  thefe  perfecutions  were,  for  exquifite  cruelty, 
far  exceeded  by  thofe  which  followed  in  the  reign  of 
Louis  XIV.  which    indeed   arc    fuppofed    to    exceed   all 

others 


(a)  The  Parisian  majfacre."]  This  maflacrc  was  aggravated 
with  feveral  circumftances  of  wantonnefs  and  treachery  ;  but  w? 
hope  that  the  above  numbers  are  exaggerated.  Thuanus,  their 
own  hiltorian,  reckons  30,000  lives  deltroyed  in  this  flaughter ; 
but  proteftant  authors  feem  to  have  reafon  for  fuppofing  them 
not  lefs  than  100,000  in  the  whole.  But  the  moft  horrid  circum- 
ftance  in  the  hiftory  is,  that  when  the  news  of  this  event  reached 
Rome,  Pope  Gregory  XIII.  inftituted  the  moft  folemn  rejoicings, 
giving  thanks  to  almighty  God  for  this  glorious  vi<^ory  ! ! !  An 
inftance  that  has  no  parallel,  even  in  hell.  [!•  N.] 


456        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

others  that  ever  have  been  ;  and  being  long  continued, 
by  reafon  of  the  long  reign  of  that  king,  almoft  wholly 
extirpated  the  Protellant  religion  out  of  that  kingdom, 
where  had  been  before  a  multitude  of  famous  Proteftant 
churches  all  over  the  country,  (b)  Thus  it  was  given 
to  the  beaft  to  make  war  with  the  faints,  and  to  over- 
come them. 

There 

(b)  The  Persecution  under  Louis  X/F.]  This  followed  the 
revocation  of  the  edidl  of  Nantes,  A,  D,  1685.  The  following 
cxtraft  is  taken  from  a  French  work  of  reputarion  : 

"  The  toopers,  foldiers,  and  dragoons  went  into  the  Proteftants 
houfes,  where  they  marred  and  df  faced  their  lioufliold-ftiifF,  broke 
their  looking-glaffes,  and  other  utenfds  and  ornaments ;  let  their 
wine  run  about  their  cellars,  and  threw  about  their  corn,  and 
fpoiled  it.  And  as  to  thofe  things  which  they  could  not  deftroy  in 
this  manner,  fuch  as  furniture  of  beds,  linen,  wearing-apparel, 
plate,  &c.  they  carried  them  to  the  market-place,  and  fold  them 
to  the  Jefuits,  and  other  Roman  catholics.  By  thefe  means  the 
Proteftants  in  Montaubon  alone  were,  in  four  or  five  days,  ttn'pped 
of  above  a  million  of  money.      But  this  was  not  the  worft. 

"  They  turned  the  dining-rooms  of  gentlemen  into  ftables  for 
their  horfes.  And  treated  the  owners  of  the  houfes  where  they 
quartered  with  the  higheft  indignity  and  cruelty,  laffiing  them 
about  from  one  to  another,  day  and  night,  without  intermiflion, 
not  fuffering  them  to  eat  or  drink  ;  and  when  they  began  to  fmk 
under  the  fatigue  and  pains  they  had  undergone,  they  laid  them 
on  a  bed,  and  when  they  thought  them  fornewhat  recovered,  made 
them  rife,  and  repeated  the  fame  tortures.  When  they  faw  the 
blood  and  fvveat  run  down  their  faces  and  other  parts  of  their  bo- 
dies, they  fluiccd  them  with  water,  and  putting  over  their  heads 
kettle-drums,  turned  upfide  down,  they  made  a  continual  din  upon 
them  till  thefe  unhappy  creatures  loft  their  fenfes.  When  one  party 
of  thefe  tormenters  were  weary,  they  were  relieved  by  another, 
who  praftifed  the  fame  cruelties  with  freih  vigodr. 

"  At  Negreplifle,  a  town  near  Montaubon,  they  hung  up  Ifaae 
Favin,  a  Protcftant  citizen  of  that  place,  by  his  arm-pits,  and 
tormented  him  a  whole  night  b}^  pinching  and  tearing  off  his  flefti 
with  pincers.  They  made  a  great  lire  round  a  boy  of  about  twelve 
years  old,  who,  with  hands  and  eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven,  cried  out, 
**  My  God,  help  me  !"  And  when  they  found  the  youth  refolved 
to  die  rather  than  to  renounce  his  religion,  they  fnatched  him  from 
the  firejuft  as  he  was  on  the  point  ut  being  burnt. 

"  In  feveral  places  the  foldiers  ap*plied  red  hot  irons  to  the 
hands  and  feet  of  men,  and  the  brcafts  of  women.  At  Nantes  they 
hung  up  feveral  women  and  maids  by  their  feet,  and  others  by 
their  arm-pits,  and  thus  expofedthem  to  public  view  ftark  naked. 

They 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.         457 

There  was  alfo  a  terrible  perlccution  in  EugUnd,  \\\ 
Queen  Mary's  time,  wherein  great  numbers  in  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom  were  burnt  alive*  And  after  this,  though 
the  Proteftant  religion  has  been  for  the  moft  part  eftab- 
lidied  by  law  in  England,  yet  there  have  been  very  fevere 
perlecutions  by  the  high-churchmen,  who  fymbolize  in 
many  things  with  the  papifls.  Such  a  perfecution  was 
that  which  occafioned  our  forefathers  to  flee  from  their 
native  country,  and  to  come  and  fettle  in  this  land,  which 

3  N  was 

They  bound  mothers  that  gave  fuck  to  pofts,  and  let  their  fucking 
infants  lie  languifhing  in  their  fight  for  fevcral  days  and  nights, 
crying,  mourning,  and  gafping  for  life.  Some  they  bound  before 
a  great  fire,  and  being  half  roaftcd,  let  them  go  ;  a  punifliment 
worfe  than  death.  Amidlt  a  thoufand  hideous  cries,  and  a  thou- 
fand  blafphemies,  they  hung  up  men  and  women  by  the  hair  ;  and 
fome  by  their  feet,  on  hooks  in  chimnics,  and  fmoaked  them  with 
whifpsof  wet  hay  till  they  were  fuffocated.  They  tied  fome  un- 
der the  arms  with  ropes  and  plunged  them  again  and  again  into 
wells;  they  bound  others  like  criminals,  put  them  to  the  torture, 
and  with  a  funnel  filled  them  with  wine,  till  the  fumes  of  it  took 
away  their  reafon,  when  they  made  them  fay  they  confented  to  be 
catholics.  They  ftripped  them  naked,  and  after  a  thoufand  indig- 
nities, ftuck  them  witii  pins  and  needles  from  head  to  foot.  They 
cut  and  flalhcd  them  with  knives  ;  and  fometimcs  with  led  hot  pin- 
cers took  hold  of  them  by  the  nofe,  and  other  parts  of  the  body, 
and  dragged  them  about  the  rooms  till  they  made  them  promilc 
to  be  catholics,  or  till  the  cries  of  thefe  miferable  wretches,  calling 
upon  God  for  help,  forced  them  to  let  them  go.  They  beat  them 
with  ftaves,  and  thus  bruifcd,  and  with  broken  bones,  dragged 
them  to  church,  where  their  forced  prefcnce  was  taken  for  an 
abjuration.  In  fome  places  they  tied  fathers  and  hufbands  to  their 
bed-pofts,  and  before  their  eyes  raviflied  their  wives  and  daugh- 
ters with  impunity.  They  blew  up  men  and  women  with  bellows 
till  they  burll  them.  If  any  to  efcape  thefe  barbarities  endea- 
voured to  fave  themfclves  by  flight,  they  purfued  them  into  the 
fields  and  woods,  where  they  fliot  at  them  like  wild  bealts,  and 
prohibited  them  from  departing  the  kingdom  (a  cruelty  never 
pracflifed  by  Nero  or  Dioclcfian)  upon  pain  of  confifcation  of  ef- 
fcdls,  the  gitllies,  the  laflv,  and  perpetual  imprifonment;  infomuch 
that  the  prifons  of  the  fea-port  towns  were  crammed  with  men, 
women,  and  children,  who  endeavoured  to  fave  themfclves  by 
flight  from  this  dreadful  perfecution.  With  thefe  fcenes  of  defo- 
lation  and  horror,  the  popifli  clergy  feafted  their  eyes,  and  made 
only  a  matter  of  laughter  and  fport  of  thcra.  [Seckenb  Hill. 
Luth.  II.  p.  116.] 

*  See  Fvx%  Martyrs,  vol.  iii. 


458        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

was  then  an  hideous  howling  wildernefs.  And  thefe  per- 
fetutions  were  continued  with  little  iutermiffion  till  King 
William  came  to  the  throne,  (c) 

Scotland 

(c)  Perfecut'iom  of  the  high-churchmen.]  Luther  ufed  a 
vulgar  faying,  '  that  every  man  is  born  with  a  Pope  in  his  belly  ;* 
meaning  that  a  fpirit  of  tyranny  is  natural  to  the  prefent  depraved 
ftate  of  man.  Nor  v/ill  the  mere  profefTion  of  any  religion,  how- 
ever excellent  and  benign,  remedy  this  propenfitv,  unlefs  men 
enter  into  the  fpirit  of  it.  We  need  not  wonder  therefore  at  ani- 
mofities  and  even  perfecutions  among  nominal  profeiTors,  who 
often  affumc  Chriftianity  only  as  a  cloak  for  their  vicious  tempers 
and  condudl:.  The  perfecutions  and  oppreffions  in  the  times  of 
the  Stuarts  feem  to  have  arlfen  folely  from  a  lull  of  power  and 
impatience  of  contradiftion.  Even  that  miitaken  zeal  for  God 
and  reh'gion  which  fometimes  kindled  the  flames  of  perfecution, 
feems  to  have  had  but  little  fhare  in  caufing  thefe,  fince  the  bit- 
tereft  enemies  of  the  Puritans  did  not  charge  them  with  effential 
errors  of  either  faith  or  manners.  Abfolute  monarchy  and  arbi- 
trary power  were  the  grand  objefts  of  Laud  and  his  furious  affo- 
ciatcs.  And  it  is  to  be  feared,  that  they  would  not  have  thought 
the  deftruftion  of  half  their  mailer's  fubjefts  too  dear  a  purchafe 
for  the  power  of  completely  tyrannizing  over  the  reft.  It  would  be 
foreign  to  the  defign  of  thefe  notes  to  enter  into  the  particulars 
ef  thefe  enormities  ;  thofe  who  can  bear  fuch  relations,  may  find 
abundance  of  them  in  Baxter''?,  Hiftory  of  his  Life  and  Times  ; 
NeaPs  Hiftoi7  of  the  Puritans,  and  Pahnerh  edition  of  the  Non- 
conformifts  Memorial,  or  Memoirs  of  the  Nonconformift  Minif- 
ters ;  2000  of  whom  were  expelled,  on  the  fame  fatal  day  (St. 
Bartholomew's)  on  which  the  Parifian  maffacre  began.  But,  un- 
happily, perfecution  has  not  been  confined  to  fuch  men  :  every 
fed,  and  fome  of  the  beft  men  in  each  have  engaged  in  the  diabo- 
lical bufinefs.  We  have  already  obferved  inftances  of  this  in  the 
primitive  churgh,  [page  424,  Ncte  d]  and  the  fame  may  be  ob- 
ferved early  in  the  reformation  ;  with  what  bitternefs  did  the 
Lutherans,  Zuinglians,  and  Calvinifts,  and  other  parties  of  the  re- 
formers, abufe,  imprifon,  and  banifli  each  other,  is  too  well  atteftcd 
by  ecclefiaftical  hiilorians  of  the  i6th  century.  Not  to  mention 
the  blood  of  fcflaries  unjuilly  fhed  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
Not  only  did  the  epifcopalians  in  England  perfecute  the  difTenters; 
but  in  Scotland,  and  during  the  commonwealth  in  England,  thefe 
perfecutcd  the  epifcopalians.  And  what  is  perhaps  more  extra- 
ordinary, even  in  New  England,  where.the  firft  colonifts  fled  from 
the  iron  hand  of  opprelTion  at  'home,  they  perfecuted  the  quakcrs 
and  others  who  diiTented  from  their  eftablifliment.  How  then 
fhall  wc  account  for  thefe  encrmltles,  but  upon  the  principle  we 
firft  m.enticned,  that  it  proceeds  from  the  g-cneral  depravity  of 

human 


TO    THE   FALL    OF  ANTICHRIST.      459 

Scotland  has  alfo  been  the  fcene,  for  many  years  together, 
of  cruelties  and  blood  by  the  hand  of  high-churchmen, 
fuch  as  came  very  little  fhort  of  the  popifh  perfecution  in 
Queen  Mary's  days,  and  in  many  things  much  exceeded  it, 
which  continued  till  they  were  delivered  by  King  William. 

Ireland  alfo  has  been  as  it  were  overwhelmed  with 
proteftant  blood.  In  the  days  of  King  Charles  I.  of  Eng- 
land, above  100,000  Proteftants  were  cruelly  murdered 
in  that  kingdom  in  a  few  days ;  the  papifts,  by  a  fecret 
agreement,  rifing  all  over  the  kingdom  at  an  appointed 
time,  intending  to  kill  every  Proteftant  in  the  kingdom 
at  once,   (d) 

Befides  thefc,  there  have  been  very  cruel  perfecutions 
in  Italy,  and  Spain,  and  other  places,  which  I  ihall  not 
(land  to  relate,   (e) 

Thus 

human  nature,  which,  though  in  a  degree  reftlficd  and  fubdued 
in  good  men,  is  not  eradicated,  but  often  difcovers  itfclf  in  the 
tempers  and  aftions  of  the  bell.  [G.  E.] 

(d)  The  ATq/pjcre  in  Irelakd.']  It  appears  that  the  Irifh  pro- 
teftants  had  been  marked  out  for  deitruftion  in  Qjaeen  Mary's 
reign,  but  Providence  delivered  them  in  the  following  i-emarkabls 
manner  :  Dr.  Cole  being  fcnt  with  a  commiffion  for  that  purpofe, 
boafted  of  it  by  the  way,  and  a  Proteftant  at  Chefter,  where  he 
ftopt,  found  means  to  fteal  it.  When  the  Doftor  came  to  Ireland, 
and  was  about  to  produce  his  commiffion  to  the  proper  perfons, 
on  opening  the  box  which  had  contained  it,  to  his  great  morti- 
fication he  only  found  a  pack  of  cards,  with  the  knave  of  clubs 
uppermoft  !  He  returned  to  obtain  a  new  commifiion,  but  the 
queen  died  before  it  could  be  procured.  [N.  U.] 

(e)  Other  cniekles.j  Befide  the  proteftant  blood  (bed  in 
thefc  perfecutions,  popery  has  to  anfwer  for  the  lives  of  millions 
of  Jews,  Mahometans,  and  Barbarians.  When  the  Moors  con- 
quered Spain  in  the  eighth  century,  they  allowed  the  Chriftians 
the  free  exerclfe  of  their  religion.  But  in  the  15th  century,  when 
the  tables  were  turned,  and  Ferdinand  fubdued  the  Morifcoes 
(the  dcfcendants  of  the  above  Moors)  many  hundred  thoufands  of 
them  were  forced  to  be  baptized,  or  burnt,  maiTacred,  or  banifhed, 
and  their  children  fold  for  flaves  ;  befides  an  innumerable  multi- 
tude of  Jews  who  fhared  the  fame  cruelties ;  chiefly  by  means  of 
the  infernal  inquifition.  [G^^y^/cj-'s  Mifc.  Tracts,  vol.  i.  p.  r,  and 
fequel.]  A  worfe  flaughter,  if  pofTible,  was  made  among  the  na- 
tives of  Spanifh  America,  where  15  millions  are  faid  to  have  been 
facrificed  to  the  genius  of  popery  in  the  courfe  of  about  40  years. 

3  N   2  L-^^'"- 


46o        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

Thus  did  the  devil,  and  his  great  minifter  antichrift,  rage 
with  violence  and  cruelty  againfl  the  church  of  Chrifl: ! 
And  thus  did  the  whore  of  Babylon  make  herfelf  drunk 
with  the  blood  of  the  faints  and  martyrs  of  Jefus  !  and 
thus,  by  thefe  perfccutions,  the  Protcftant  church  has  been 
much  diminiihed  !  Yet  with  all  have  they  not  been  able 
to  prevail  ;  but  ftill  the  church  is  upheld,  and  Chrift  ful- 
fills his  promife  that  '  the  gates  of  hell  fhall  not  prevail 
'   again  ft  it.' 

[^.]  The  lafl:  kind  of  oppofition  that  Satan  has  made  to 
the  Reformation  is  by  corrupt  opinions.  Satan  has  oppofed 
the  light  of  the  gofpel  which  ihone  forth  in  the  Reforma- 
tion with  many  corrupt  opinions,  which  he  has  propagated 
in  the  world. 

And  here,  in  the  firfl:  place,  the  firft  oppofition  of  this 
kind  was  by  the  fe6l  of  the  Anabaptifts,  which  began  about 
four  or  five  years  after  the  Reformation  itfelf  began.  This 
fe6t,  as  it  firfl  appeared  in  Germany,  were  vaflly  more 
extravagant  than  the  prefent  anabaptifis  are  in  England,  (f) 
They  held  a  great  many  corrupt  opinions:  one  was,  that 
there  ought  to  be  no  civil  authority,  and  fo  that  it  was 
lawful  to  rebel  againll:  civil  authority.  And  on  this  prin- 
ciple, they  refufed  to  fubmit  to  magiflrates,  or  any  human 
laws;  and  gathered  together  in  vaft  armies  to  defend  them- 
felves,  and  having  put  ail  Germany  into  an  uproar,  fo  kept 
it  for  fome  time. 

The  next  oppofition  of  tliis  kind  to  the  Reformation  was 
that  which  was  made  by  enthujiajis.  (g)      Thofe  are  rightly 

called 

\_Bar.  de  las  Cafas\  Narrative.]   Well  therefore  might  the  infplred 
apoftle  fay,  that  at  Myftic  Babylon's  deftrudlion,  '  In   her  was 

*  found  the  blood  of  prophets  and  of  faints,  and  of  all  that  were 

*  flain  upon  the  earth.'      [Rev.  xvili.  24.]  [I.  N.] 

(f  j  The  Anabaptists  in  England."]  It  is  but  juftice  to  obfervc 
that  the  prefent  anabaptifts,  anti-pasdobaptifts  or  baptilts  (as  they 
are  now  called)  differ  in  nothing  from  other  diffenters,  but  in  the 
article  of  baptifm,  which  they  admini.fl;er  by  immerfion  and  to 
adults  only.  But  the  anabaptifts  of  the  fixteenth  century  were 
what  our  author  reprefents  them.  '  [U.  S.] 

(g)  'E.^r  hvs\  AST  s  oppofed  the  Reformation.']  Of  thefe  fome  re- 
jefted  all  outward  religion,  and  acknowledged  none  but  internal  ; 

2.  fom« 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        461 

called  enthufiafts  who  falfely  pretend  to  be  infpired  by  the 
Holy  Ghoft  as  the  prophets  were.  Thcfe  appeared  in 
Germany  about  ten  years  after  Luther  began  the  Refor- 
mation ;  and  many  of  them  were  exceeding  wild  and 
extravagant.  The  followers  of  thefc  are  the  Quakers  in 
England,  and  other  parts  of  the  Britilh  dominions. 

The  next  were  the  Socinians,  who  had  their  beginning 
chiefly  in  Poland,  by  the  teaching  of  Lslius  and  Fauftus 
Socinus.  They  held,  that  Chrifi:  was  a  mere  man,  and 
denied  his  fatlsfa6lion,  and  many  of  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  the  Chriftian  religion.  Their  herefy  has  hnce 
been  greatly  propagated  among  Proteftants  in  Poland,  Ger- 
many, Holland,  England,  and  other  places. 

After  thefe  arofe  the  Arminians.  They  firft  appeared 
in  Holland  about  130  years  ago.  They  are  fo  called  from 
a  Dutchman,  whofe  name  was  Jacob  Van  Hafmin,  in 
Latin,  Jacobus  Arminius.  This  Arminius  was  firft  a  mi- 
nifter  at  Amfterdam,  and  then  a  profeiTor  of  divinity  in 
the  unlverfity  of  Leyden.  He  had  many  followers  in 
Holland.  There  was  upon  this  a  fynod  of  all  the  Re- 
formed churches  called  together,  who  met  at  Dort  in 
Holland.  The  fynod  of  Dort  condemned  them  ;  but  yet 
they  fprcad  and    prevailed,  (h)      They  began   to  prevail 

in 

2.  fome  pretended  to  extraordinary  vifions  and  revelations  ;  and, 

3.  others  expected  the  corporeal  prefence  of  Chiifl  to  fubdue  all 
other  governments.  The  fefts  were  too  numerous  to  be  too  parti- 
cularized ;  and  too  contemptible  to  deferve  it :  but  mofl  of  them 
have  dwindled  into  oblivion.  [G.  E.] 

(h)  The  Synod  of  Dort.]  This  famous  aflembly  met  1618. 
Befides  a  number  of  Dutch  divines,  and  feveral  from  other  pro- 
tcftant  countries,  England  fent  4,  viz.  Bps.  Carlton,  Hall,  and 
Davenant,  and  Dr.  Ward;  and  Scotland  i.  Dr.  Balconquel. 
And  for  the  Arminians,  the  three  principal  were  Epifcopius, 
Coi  vinus,  and  Dwinglon.  After  much  altercation,  (as  is  gene- 
ral the  cafe)  without  any  approach  to  agreement,  the  afTembly 
confirmed  the  famous  5  points,  viz.  Eleftion,  limited  Redemp- 
tion, Original  Sin,  invincibility  of  Grace,  and  final  Perfeverance. 
And  the  Arrninian  rcmonftrants  being  the  weaker  party  were 
dcpofed  from  their  minillry. 

We  take  tlie  liberty  of  adding,  that  our  author's  excellent  trea- 
tifes  on  Free-will,  Original  Sin,  &c.  have  perhaps  done  more  than 
twenty  Synods  could  have  done  to  refute  thefe  errors.       [G.  E.] 


462         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

in  England  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  efpecially  in  the 
church  of  England.  The  church  of  England  divines 
bs^re  that  time  were  almoft  univcrfally  Calvinills  ;  but 
fince  then  Arminianifm  has  gradually  more  and  more 
prevailed,  both  in  the  eftablifliment  and  among  the  Dif- 
fenters,  and  has  fprcad  greatly  in  New  England,  as  well 
as   Old. 

Since  this,  Ariamfm  has  been  revived.  I  have  already 
obferved  Arianiim,  a  little  after  Conftantine's  time  almoft 
fwallowed  up  the  Chriftian  world,  like  a  flood  out  of  the 
moutli  of  the  dragon,  which  threatened  to  fwallow  up  the 
woman.  And  of  late  years,  this  herefy  alfo  has  been  re- 
vived in  England,  and  greatly  prevails  there,  both  in  the 
church  and  among  DifTenters. 

Another  thing  which  has  of  late  exceedingly  prevailed 
among  Proteftants,  and  efpecially  in  England,  is  De'ifm. 
The  Deifls  wholly  cail;  off  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  are 
profefled  infidels.  They  are  not  like  the  heretics,  Arians, 
Socinians,  and  others,  who  own  the  fcriptures  to  be  the 
word  of  God,  and  the  Chriftian  religion  to  be  true,  but 
only  deny  certain  do6lrincs  of  it,  for  they  deny  the  whole 
Chriftian  religion.  Indeed  they  own  the  being  of  God  ; 
but  deny  that  Chrift  was  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  fay  he  was 
an  irapoftor,  as  they  do  of  all  the  prophets  and  apoftles. 
They  deny  the  Bible,  all  revealed  religion,  -and  believe 
that  God  has  given  mankind  no  ether  light  to  walk  by  but 
their  own  reaion. — Thus  much  concerning  the  oppoMtion 
that  Satan  has  made  againft  the  Reformation. 

(3.)  I  proceed  now  to  fliow  what  fuccefs  the  gofpel  has 
had  in  thefe  later  times  of  the  Reformed  church.  This 
fuccefs  may  be  reduced  to  three  heads  ;  [i.]  Reformation 
in  do6l:rine  and  wcrfhip  in  countries  .called  Chriftian  ; 
[2.]  Propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the  heathens  ;  [3.] 
Revival  of  religion  in  the  power  and  pradllce  of  it. 

[i.]  As  to  the  ftrft,  viz.  Reformation  in  doftrine,  the 
moft  confidcrable  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  of  this  kind  lately, 
has  been  In  the  empire  of  Alufcoi'y,  vvhlch  is  a  country 
of  vaft  extent.  The  Mufcovitcs,*  as  many  of  them  as 
cail  themfelves  Chriftians,  profefled  to  be  of  the  Greek 

church  ; 


TO   THE   FALL   OF  ANTICHRIST.       463 

church ;  but  were  barbaroufly  ignorant,  and  very  Tuper- 
iHtious,  till  of  late  years.  Their  late  Emperor  Peter  the 
Great,  who  reigned  till  within  thefe  twenty  years,  let 
hiinfelf  to  reform  the  people  of  his  dominions,  and  took 
great  pains  to  bring  them  out  of  their  darknefs,  and  to 
have  them  inftru6led  in  religion.  To  that  end,  he  fet 
up  fchools  of  learning,  ordered  the  Bible  to  be  printed  in 
their  own  language,  and  made  a  law  that  every  family 
fliould  keep  the  holy  fcriptures  in  their  houfes,  and  that 
no  perfon  fliould  be  allowed  to  marry  till  they  were  able 
to  read  them.  He  alfo  reformed  his  churches  of  many 
of  their  fuperftitions,  whereby  the  religion  profefled  and 
pra6lifcd  in  Mufcovy  became  much  nearer  to  that  of  the 
Proteftants  than  formerly  it  ufed  to  be.  This  emperor 
gave  great  encouragement  to  the  exercife  of  the  Proteflant 
religion  in  his  dominions.  And  fmce  that  Mufcovy  is 
become  a  land  of  light,  in  comparifon  of  what  it  was  be- 
fore (i). 

[2.]  As  to  the  fecond  kind  of  fuccefs  which  the  gofpel 
has  lately  had,  viz.  its  propagation  among  the  heatheriy  I 
would  take  notice  of  three  inftances. 

The  propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  tlie  heathen  herd 
in  America.  This  continent  on  which  we  live,  which  is 
a  very  great  part  of  the  world,  and  together  with  its 
neighbouring  fcas  adjoining,  takes  up  one  fide  of  the  globe, 
was  wholly  unknown  to  all  Chriflian  nations  till  thefe 
latter  times,  though  it  was  very  full  of  people  ,  and  there- 
fore here  the  devil  had  the  inhabitants,  as  it  were,  fe- 
cure  to  himfelf,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  light  of  the  gof- 
pel, and  fo  out  of  the  v.ay  of  moleftation  in  his  dominion 
over  them.     And  heie  the  many  nations  of  Indians  wor- 

fhipped 

( I )  Protestants  in  Russia.]  We  are  forry  to  be  informed 
by  a  gentleman  who  very  lately  vifited  Rufiia,  that  the  Proteftant 
interell  there  is  exceedingly  low.  Even  at  Peterfburgh,  the  ca- 
pital of  the  empire,  the  congregation  of  Britifh  Proteftants  is  very 
fmall  and  poor,  the  merchants,  to  their  fhame  be  it  fpoken,  think- 
ing it  beneath  them  to  profefs  religion  ;  the  communicants  at  this 
place,  (ftrangeto  tell !)  were  only  three  befide  the  minifter. — The 
Greeks  are,  alfo  very  fuperftitious,  though  perhaps  lefs  fo  than 
formeily.  [N.  U.] 


464        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

{hipped  him  as  God  from  age  to  age,  while  the  gofpcl 
was  confined  to  the  oppofite  fide  of  the  globe.  It  is  a 
fuppofition  which,  if  I  remember  right,  I  have  fome 
where  met  with,  that  the  occafion  of  the  firfl:  peopling 
of  America  was  this,  that  the  devil  being  alarmed  and  fur- 
prifcd  by  the  wonderful  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  during  the 
firft  three  hundred  years  after  Chrift,  and  by  the  down- 
fall of  the  heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Conftantine  ; 
and  fearing  that  his  kingdom  would  be  utterly  overthrown 
through  the  world,  led  away  a  people  from  the  other  con- 
tinent into  America,  that  they  might  be  quite  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  gofpel,  that  here  he  might  quietly  poffefs 
them,  and  reign  over  them  as  their  god.  And  it  is  faid, 
that  fome  of  the  Indians,  when  the  Europeans  firft  came 
into  America,  had  a  tradition  among  them,  that  their  god 
firft  led  them  into  this  continent,  and  went  before  them 
in  an  ark.  (k) 

Whether  this  was  fo  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  the  de- 
vil did  quietly  enjoy  his  dominion  over  the  poor  Indians 
for  many  ages.  But  in  later  times  God  has  fent  the  gof- 
pel into  thefe  parts  of  the  world,  and  now  the  Chriftian 
church  is  fct  up  among  us  in  New  England,  and  in  other 
parts  of  America,  where  before  had  been  nothing  but  the 

groffeft 

(k)  TTiff  peopling  o/"  America.]  The  above  notion,  to  which 
our  author  fecms  pretty  much  inclined,  we  cannot  perfuade  our- 
felves  to  admit  for  the  following  reafons : 

1.  Bccaufe  it  appears  to  us  extremely  probable,  from  a  fimila- 
rity  of  manners  and  even  language,  not  to  mention  other  circum- 
ftances,  that  a  part  of  America  was  peopled  long  before  this  by 
fome  Phenicians  ;  and  not  totally  unknown  to  the  ancient  Greeks. 
[See  Univ.  Hift.  vol.  xx.  p.  158,  159.]  This  v/Ill  agree  perfedly 
with  the  tradition  mentioned  by  our  author,  fince  it  appears  that 
other  nations  had  an  imitation  of  the  facred  aik  of  the  Hebrews. 
[Tacitus  De  Mor.  Germ.  cap.  40.]  And  fuch  have  been  aiftually 
difcovercd  in  South  America  and  fome  of  the  South  Sea  iflands. 
Picari's  rehgious  Ceremonies,  Sec.  vol.  iii.  p.  146.  and  Haivktf- 
ivorth's  Voy.  vol.  ii.  p.  252,  257.] 

2.  We  think  it  more  confident  and  to  the  divine  glory  to  refer 
this  event  to  the  providence  of  God  than  to  the  agency  of  the  de- 
viL  It  was  unqueftionably  the  work  or  heaven  to  fcatter  the  in- 
habitants of  the  earth  after  the  confufion  of  Babel,  in  order  to  the 

peopling 


TO   THE    FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.       465 

grofled  heathenilh  darknefs.  Great  part  of  America  is 
now  full  of  Bibles,  and  has  at  leafl:  the  form  of  the  vvor- 
fhip  of  the  true  God  and  Jefus  Chrifl,  where  the  name  of 
Chrift:  before  had  not  been  heard  of  for  many  ages,  if  at 
all.  And  though  there  has  been  but  a  fmnll  propagation 
of  the  gofpel  among  the  heathen  here,  in  comparifon  of 
what  is  to  be  wifhed  for  ;  yet  there  has  been  fomething 
worthy  to  be  taken  notice  of.  There  was  fomething  re- 
markable in  the  tirfl  times  of  New  England  ;  and  even 
of  late  in  this  and  feveral  other  parts  of  America,  many 
Indians  have  Ihown  an  inclination  to  be  inflrudted  in  the 
Chriftian  religion,  (l) 

And 

peopling  of  our  hcmifpherc,  and  it  is  inconceivable  why  the  peo- 
pling of  the  other  fliould  be  referred  to  fo  oppofite  a  caufe.  It  is 
granted  however  that  America  might  owe  a  great  part  of  its  inha- 
bitants to  thefe  countries  of  Afia,  as  Tartary,  Siberia,  and  Kam- 
fchatka,  which  approach  it  neareft,  and  as  fome  fuppofe,  may  pof- 
fibly  have  once  joined  the  oppofite  continent.  And  perhaps  fome 
might  emigrate  from  China,  and  even  Wales.  [Sec  Univ.  Hi(h 
vol.  XX.  p.  163,  174,  190.]  Whether,  however,  the  firil  inhabi- 
tants of  America  fled  thither  from  the  hand  of  tyranny — emigrated 
from  a  principle  of  commerce — or  were  driven  there  by  unruly  ele- 
ments, there  feems  no  reafon  for  afcribing  an  event  of  fuch  impor- 
tance to  diabolical  agency  or  contrivance.  [G.  E.] 

(l)  Gofpd  propagated  among  the  IsDiAss  in  America.^  One 
of  the  mort  eminent  and  fuccefsful  miflionaries  among  thefe  was 
Mr.  David  Brarnerd,  whofe  life  Pref.  Edivards  published.  In 
reading  the  account  of  Mr.  B.  and  other  miffionaries,  two  ideas 
ftrike  us  with  peculiar  force. 

1.  The  difficulty  of  their  work  :  the  variety  of  the  Indian  lan- 
guages, and  the  length  of  time  it  takes  to  acquire  a  tolerable  ac- 
quaintance with  any  of  them,  is  very  difcouraging.  It  is  alfo  fre- 
quently difficult  to  procure  an  audience,  and  then  every  thing  in 
ChrHlianity  appears  fo  perfectly  ftrange  to  them,  and  the  evidences 
of  it  lay  fo  much  out  of  their  way,  that  few  give  any  credit  to  it. 
Their  grand  quellion,  what  has  become  of  their  forefathers  ?  is  not 
cafily  anfwered  to  their  fatisfaftion.  '  They  were  good  men,  fay 
'  they,  and  we  will  follow  them ;  we  doubt  not  but  they  were  happy 
*  without  tliis  new  religion,  why  then  fhould  we  embrace  it  V  But 
their  moil  important  objection  is  drawn  from  the  vicious  lives  of 
nominal  Chriftians.  **  Chrillian  religion!  Devil  religion!  (fay  they) 
Chriftian  much  drunk;  Chriftian  much  do  wrong,  much  beat,  much 
abufe  others." — "  Truly  it  is  a  fad  fight,  fays  one,  to  behuld   a 

3  O  drunken 


466        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

And  however  fmall  tlic  propagation  of  the  gofpel  a- 
mong  the  heathen  in  America  has  hitherto  been,  yet  I 
think  we  may  well  lock:  upon  the  difcovery  of  fo  great 
a  part  of  the   world,  and  bringing   the   gofpel  into  it,   as 

one 

drunken  Chriflian,  and  a  fober  Indian — an  Indian  jull  in  his  deal- 
ings, and  a  Chriftian  not  fo  ;  a  luborious  Indian,  and  an  idle  Chrif- 
tian,  Sec.  O  what  a  fad  thing  it  is  for  Chriftians  to  come  (hort  of 
heathens  even  in  moralities  !"  [Voyage  to  Eaft  India,  added  to  the 
Travels  of  Pietro  della  Valle,  printed  in  Eng.  1665.] 

2.  We  are  led  to  admire  the  beauty  and  fimpliclty  with  which 
thefe  barbarians  when  converted  exprefs  themfelves,  and  to  adore 
the  power  of  divine  grace  in  their  converfion. 

*'  After  public  worfhip  was  done,  numbers  came  to  my 
houfe,  fays  Mr.  Brainerd,  and  while  we  were  fniging,  the  woman 
mentioned  Feb.  9.  I  may  venture  to  fay,  if  I  may  be  allowed  to  fay 
fo  of  any  peifon  I  ever  faw,  was  filled  with  joy  unfpeakable  and 
full  of  glory,  and  could  not  but  burft  forth  in  prayer  and  praife 
to  God,  crying,  fometimes  in  Englifh  and  fometimes  in  Indian — 

*  O  bleffed  Lord!   do  come,  do  come!   O  do  take  me  away!   do 

*  let  me  die  and  go  to  Jefus  Chrift.     O  dear  Jefus  do  come  !    I 

*  can't  (lay,  I  can't  ftay !    O  how  can  I  live  in  this  world!   do  take 

*  my  foul  away  from  this  finful  place  !'  with  much  more  to  the 
fame  purpofe.  In  this  ecdacy  fhe  continued  fometime,  and  when 
fhe  had  a  little  recovered  herfclf,  I  aflced  her,  if  Chrift  was  not  now 
fweet  to  her  foul  ?  Whereupon,  turning  to  me  with  tears  in  her 
eyes,  and  with  all  the  tokens  of  deep  humility,  fhe  faid,  '  I  have 
'  many  times  heard  you  fpeak  of  the  goodnefs  and  fwcetnefs  of 

*  Chrift,  but  I  knew  nothing  what  you  meant ;  I  never  believed 

*  vou  ;  but  now  I  know  he  is  better  than  all  the  world.'  I  aflied, 
and  do  you  fee  enough  in  Chrift  for  the  greateft  of  finners?  .  She 
replied,   '  O  enough,  enough  for  all  the   finners   in  the  world  if 

*  they  would  but  come.'  And  turning,  at  my  defire,  to  fomepoor 
Chriftlefs  fouls  who  ftood  by  much  affefted,  ftie  faid,  '  O  there's 
'  enough  in  Chrift  for  you  all,  if  you  would  but  come.      O  ftrive, 

*  ftrive  to  give  up  your  hearts  to  him.'  Then  hearing  fomewhat 
of  the  glory  of  heaven  mentioned,  ftie  again  fell  into  an  ecftacy  of 
joy,  and  cried  out  as  before,  '  O  dear  Lord,'  do  let  n-.e  go  !    O 

*  what  Hiall  I  do  ?  I  want  to  go  to  Chrift,'  &c.  In  this  fweet  frame 
flie  continued  more  than  two  liours. 

"  When  I  have  fometimes  alked  her  why.lhe  appeared  fo  forrow- 
ful  ?  Was  file  afraid  of  hell  ?  She  would  anfvvcr,   *  No,   I  ben't  fo 

*  much  diftreffed  about  that,  but  my  heart  is  fo  wicked  I  can't  love 

*  Chrift,'  and  thereupon  burft  out  into  tears.  She  feemed  to  view 
divine  truths  as  living  realities,  and  could  fay,  *  I  know  thefe  things 

*  are  fo  ;  I  feel  them  to  be  true.'  Now  her  foul  was  rcfigned  to 
the  divine  will.      Being  aflced,  what  If  God  ftiould  take  your  huf- 

band 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        467 

one  thing  by  which  divine  Providence  is  preparing  the  way 
for  the  future  glorious  times  of  the  church  ;  when  Satan's 
kingdom  fhall  be  overthrown,  not  only  throughout  the 
Roman  empire,  but  throughout  the  whole  habitable  globe, 
on  every  fide,  and  on  all  its  continents.  WHien  thofe 
times  come,  then  doubtlefs  the  gofpel,  which  is  already 
brought  over  into  America,  fliall  have  glorious  ■  fuccefs, 
and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  new  difcovered  world  flrall 
become  fubjedls  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  as  well  as  the 

3  O  2  other 

band  from  you  (who  was  then  very  fick)  how  could  you  bear  that  ? 
She  replied,  '  He  belongs  to  God,  and  not  me,  he  may  do  with 
him  jull  what  he  pleafes.'  Now  (he  could  freely  trud  her  all  with 
God  for  time  and  eternity.  Being  a{l<ed,  how  flie  could  be  will- 
ing to  die,  and  leave  her  little  infant,  what  did  (he  think  would 
become  of  it  ?  She  anfwered,  '  God  will  take  care  of  it;  it  belongs 
to  him  ;  he  will  take  care  of  it.' 

[5rrt///^/Y/'s  Journal,  Mar.  1746.] 
Mr.  Brainerd's  labours  in  America  were  crowned  with  much 
fuccefs,  and  to  (how  that  God  ftill  carries  on  his  work,  and  at 
the  fame  time  give  a  fpecimen  of  the  beautiful  fimplicity  of  the  In- 
dian rtile,  we  fubjoin  the  following  letter  from  certain  Indians  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  J.  Caldwell,  fecrctary  to  the  board  of  commiflioners 
at  New-Jerfcy. 

Oneiduy  Dec.  10,  1 770. 
Father, 
We  have  not  much  to  fay,  but  are  very  thankful  that  our  belt 
has  arrived  after  fo  long  a  time,  and  its  language  founds  agreeably 
in  our  ears,  which  at  the  fame  time  reaches  the  heart  with  peculiar 
joy  as  wc  are  poor.  We  return  thanks  to  our  fathers  beyond  the 
Great  Waters,  for  the  confideration  they  made  us  of  ^.  10  fterling. 
We  thank  them  from  our  very  hearts,  and  alfo  blefs  God  who  put 
it  into  their  hearts  to  fhew  us  this  kindnefs.  The  holy  word  of 
Jefus  has  got  place  among  us,  and  advances  ;  many  have  lately 
forfaken  their  former  fins  to  appeal ance,  and  turned  to  God; 
there  are  fome  among  us  who  are  very  llubborn  and  ftrong  ;  but 
Jefus  is  Almighty,  and  his  word  is  very  ftrong  too;  therefore  we 
hope  he  will  conquer  and  fucceed  more  and  more. 

We  fay  no  more,  only  aflc  our  fathers  to  pray  for  us.  Although 
they  are  at  a  great  diftance,  perhaps  by  and  by,  through  the 
ftrength  and  mercy  of  Jefus,  we  {hall  meet  in  his  kingdom  above. 
Farewell. 

Tageivareu,  chief  of  the  bear  tribe. 

Suchnageat, weft  tribe. 

Ojfcketa, turkle  tribe. 

[G.  E.] 


468         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

other  parts  of  the  earth  :  and  in  all  probability  Providenco 
has  fo  ordered  it,  that  the  mariner's  compafs,  which  is 
an  invention  of  latter  times,*  (whereby  men  are  enabled 
to  fail  over  the  wideft  ocean,  when  before  they  durft  not 
venture  far  from  land)  flionld  prove  a  preparation  for 
what  God  intends  to  bring  to  pafs  in  the  glorious  times  of 
tlie  church,  viz.  the  fending  forth  the  gofpel  wherever  any 
of  the  children  of  men  dwell,  how  far  off  foever,  and 
however  feparated  by  wide  oceans  from  tltofe  parts  of  the 
world  which  are  already  Chriftianized. 

There  has  of  late  years  been  alfo  a  very  confiderable 
propagation  of  the  gofpel  in  the  dominions  of  Mufcovy. 
I  have  already  obferved  the  reformation  which  there  has 
lately  been  among  thofe  who  are  called  Chriftians  there; 
but  I  now  fpeak  of  the  heathen.  Great  part  of  the  vaft 
dominions  of  the  Emperor  of  Mufcovy  are  grofsly  heathen. 
The  greater  part  of  Great  Tartary,  a  heathen  country,  has 
in  later  times  been  brought  into  the  Mufcovitc  government  ; 
and  of  late  great  nvimbers  of  thofe  heathen  have  embraced 
the  Chriftian  religion. 

There  has  lately  been  llkewife  a  very  confiderable  pro- 
pagation of  the  ChrilHan  religion  among  the  heathen  in 
the  Eaft  Indies,  particularly  at  Malabar,  many  have  been 
brought  over  to  the  Chriftian  and  Proteftant  religion; 
chiefly  by  the  labours  of  miffionaries  fent  thither  by  the 
king  of  Denmark  ;  who  have  fet  up  fchools  among  them, 
and  a  printing  prefs  to  print  Bibles  and  other  books  for 
their  inllrudlion,  in  their  own  language,  with  great  fuc- 
cefs.   (m) 

[3.]  The 

*  About  A.  D.  1302.  Gen.  Did. 
(m)  Succefs  of  the  gofpel  In  the  lE.A%r  Indies.]  The  principal 
inftruments  in  this  work  appear  to  have  been  MefTrs.  Z'legenbalgh 
and  Phitfcho,  both  German  proteflants  and  Danifh  miiTionaries, 
to  whom  others  were  afterwards  added.  The  fuccefs  of  their  mi- 
niftry  appears  to  be  not  merely  civilization,  nor  a  profcfiion  of  the 
external  ceremonies  of  religion,  as  is  to  be  feared  is  generally  the 
cafe  with  the  boafted  converfions  of  the  Jefuits  and  other  Popifh 
miffionaries;  but  many  poor  Indians* were  favinjiy  brought  to 
Jefus  Chrift,  in  fpite  of  difficulties  which  an  European  can  hardly 
conceive. 

One 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        469 

[3.]  The  laft  kind  of  fuccefs  which  there  has  lately- 
been  of  the  gofpel,  which  I  fliall  take  notice  of,  is  the 
revivals  of  the  power  and  pra6lice  of  religion  which  have 
lately  been.  And  here  I  Ihall  take  notice  of  but  two  in- 
ftances. 

Firfl,  there  has  been  not  long  fince  a  remarkable  re- 
vival of  the  power  and  pradiice  of  religion  in  Saxony  in 
German,  through  the  endeavouis  of  Auguftus  Hermannus 
Frank,  profeffbr  of  divinity  at  Hall  in  Saxony,  who  being 
a  perfon  of  eminent  charity,  the  great  work  that  God 
wrought  by  him,  began  by  his  fetting  on  foot  a  charita- 
ble delign.  It  began  only  with  his  placing  an  alms  box  at 
his  ftudy  door,  into  whicli  fome  poor  mites  were  thrown, 
whereby  books  were  bought  for  the  inflru6lion  of  the 
poor.  And  God  was  pleafed  fo  wonderfully  to  fmile  on 
his  defign,  and  fo  to  pour  out  a  fpirit  of  charity  on  people 
there  on  that  ocqafion,  that  with  their  charity  he  was 
enabled  in  a  little  time  to  ereft  public  fchools  for  the 
inft:ru6lion  of  poor  children,  and  an  orphan  houfe  for  the 
fupply  and  inflruction  of  the  poor  ;  fo  tliat  at  lafl:  near 
live  hundred  children  were  maintained  and  infi:ru6tcd  in 
learning  and  piety  by  the  charitv  of  others ;  and  the  num- 
ber increafed  more  and  more  for  many  years,  and  till  the 
laft  account  I  have  feen.  This  was  accompanied  with  a 
wonderful  reformation  and  revival  of  religion,  and  a  fpirit 
of  piety   in   the  city  and  univerfity  of    Hall;  and   thus  it 

continued. 


One  of  the  miffionaries  letters,  dated  December  11,  1 7 1 3,  men- 
tions, that  they  had  then  baptifcd  and  joined  in  Chriftian  commu- 
nion 246  perfons  (of  both  fexcs).  And  another  letter  mentions 
the  whole  number  of  children  in  their  charity  fchool  to  be  78,  of 
which  56  were  lodged  in  the  houfe. — In  tranflating  the  firft  princi- 
ples of  Chriftianity  into  the  language  of  the  natives,  the  Malabrian 
fchool-mafter  who  aflifted  was  particularly  ftartled  at  the  boldnefs 
of  an  expreffion,  intimating  our  becoming  the  children  and  friends 
of  God,  and  propofcd  faying  indead  of  it,  that  God  might  allow 
lis  to  li'tfs  his  feet. 

[See  Propagation  of  the  Gofpcl  in  the  Eall  by  the  Danifli 
Miffionaries,  &c.  printed  at  London  17 18.] 

[I.  N.] 


470  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

continued.     Which  alfo  had  great  influence  in  many  other 
places  in  Germany,    (n) 

Another  thing  which  it  would  be  ungrateful  in  us  not 
to  take  notice  of,  is  that  remarkable  out-pouring  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  which  has  been  of  late  in  this  part  of  New 
England,  of  which  we,  in  this  town,  have  had  fuch  a  fliare. 
But  it  is  needlefs  for  me  particularly  to  defcribe  what 
you  have  fo  lately  been  eye  witnefTes  to,  and  I  hope  mul- 
titudes 

(n)  Orphan  Houfe,  iifc.  at  Glauca.~\  In  the  year  1706,  the  Hate 
of  this  wonderful  undertaking  was  as  follows  : 

1.  An  hofpital  (the  building  of  which  coft  20,000  rix  dollars)  for 
the  maintenance  of  poor  orphans  of  both  fexes ;  with  an  apothe- 
cary's fhop,  printing  office,  bookfeller's  fliop,  and  other  offices, 
with  proper  perfons  to  fuperlntend  them. 

2.  Ten  fchools  for  boys  and  girls  in  different  claffes. 

3.  A  provifion  for  widows,  poor  ftudents,  ftrangers,  and  other 
neceffitous  perfons. 

4.  A  college  of  divinity. 

5.  A  collegiate  fchool  for  the  education  of  young  gentlemen  at 
the  expence  of  their  parents. 

This  work  was  begun  and  carried  on  by  a  fucceflion  of  provi- 
dences, the  moft  fingular  that  modern  times  have  feen  ;  all  the  fup- 
plies  for  a  long  time  being  communicated  in  a  manner  little  fhort 
of  miraculous.     One  may  give  an  idea  of  the  reft: 

"  Another  time,  fays  Profefibr  Frank,  I  ftood  in  need  of  a  great 
fum  of  money,  infomuch  that  an  hundred  crowns  would  not  have 
ferved  my  turn,  and  yet  I  faw  not  the  leall  appearance  how  I  might 
be  fupplied  with  an  hundred  groats.  The  fteward  came  and  fet 
forth  the  want  we  were  in.  I  bid  him  to  come  again  after  dinner, 
and  I  refolved  to  put  up  my  prayers  to  the  Lord  for  his  afliftance. 
When  he  came  again  after  dinner,  I  was  ttill  in  the  fame  want,  and 
fo  appointed  him  again  to  come  in  the  evening.  In  the  mean  time 
a  friend  of  mine  came  to  iee  me,  and  with  him  I  joined  in  prayers, 
and  found  myfelf  much  moved  to  praife  and  magnify  the  Lord  for 
all  his  admirable  dealings  towards  mankind,  even  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world,  and  the  moft  remarkable  inftances  came  readily 
to  my  remembiancc  whiHl  I  was  praying.  I  was  fo  elevated  in 
praifing  and  magnifying  God,  that  I  infifted  only  on  that  exercife 
of  my  prefent  devotion,  and  found  no  inclination  to  put  up  many 
anxious  petitions  to  be  delivered  out  of  the  prefent  necefllty.  At 
length  my  friend  taking  his  leave,  I  accompanied  him  to  the  door, 
where  I  found  the  fteward  waiting  on  ope  fide  for  the  money  he 
wanted,  and  on  the  other  a  perfon  who  brought  an  hundred  and 
fifty  crowns  for  the  fupport  of  the  hofpital." 
[Pietas  HallenfiSf  or  an  Abftraft  of  Divine  Prov.  8cc.  p.  15  —  1 7. J 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        471 

tltudes  of  you  fenfiblc  of  the  benefit  of.  (o)— Thus  I  have 
mentioned  the  more  remarkable  inftanccs  of  the  fucccfs 
which  the  gofpel  has  lately  had  in  the  world. 

(4-)   I 

(o)  Remarkable  conversions  in  New  England.]  We  have 
already  mentioned  in  the  liil  of  our  author's  works,  Cp.  33.)  a 
narrative  of  this  extraordinary  event,  from  which  we  fliall  give  a 
fhort  extratl,  for  the  gratification  of  fuch  of  our  readers  as  have 
never  feen  that  traft. 

"  In  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1733,  the  young  people  of  Nor- 
thampton in  New  England  fhewed  a  peculiar  readinefs  of  receiving 
inftruftion  ;  foon  after  this,  a  number  of  perfons  appeared  to  be 
converted  at  a  fmall  village  about  three  miles  from  the  town  :  in 
the  following  year  fome  remarkable  deaths  awakened  the  attention 
of  many  to  religious  concerns.  About  the  clofe  of  this  year  feveral 
perfons  were  fuddenly,  and  it  appears,  truly  converted,  particu- 
larly a  young  woman  who  had  been  remarkably  gay;  the  news  of 
which  flew  like  lightning,  and  produced  a  general  and  almoft  in- 
ftantaneous  alarm.  There  was  fcarcely,  fays  Mr.  Edwards,  a 
fingle  perfon  in  the  town,  either  old  or  young,  that  was  left  un- 
concerned about  the  great  things  of  the  eternal  world From 

day  to  day,  for  many  months  together,  might  be  feen  evident  in- 
ftances  of  finners  brought  out  of  darknefs  into  marvellous  light. 
This  foon  made  a  glorious  alteration  in  the  town  ;  fo  that  in  the 
fpring  and  fummer  following,  1735,  '^^  town  feemed  to  be  full  ot 
the  prefence  of  God.  It  was  a  time  of  joy  in  families  on  account 
of  falvation's  being  brought  unto  them  ;  parents  rejoicing  over 
their  children  as  new-born,  and  hufbands  over  their  wives,  and 
wives  over  their  hufbands.  The  goings  of  God  were  then  feen  m 
his  fanfluary,  God's  day  was  a  delight,  and  his  tabernacles  were 
amiable.  Our  public  aflemblies  were  then  beautiful ;  the  con- 
gregation was  alive  in  God's  fervice,  every  one  earneftly  intent  on 
the  public  worfliip,  every  hearer  eager  to  drink  in  the  words  of 
the  miniiler  as  they  came  from  his  mouth  ;  the  affembly  in  general 
were,  from  time  to  time,  in  tears  while  the  word  was  preached  ; 
fome  weeping  with  forrow  and  dillrefs,  others  with  joy  and  love, 
others  with  pity  and  concern  for  the  fouls  of  their  neighbours.  In 
all  companies,  on  whatever  occafion  perfons  met  together,  Chrill 
was  to  be  heard  of,  and  feen  in  the  midll  of  them  ;  even  at  wed- 
dings, which  formerly  were  merely  occafions  of  mirth  and  jollity, 
there  was  now  no  difcourfe  of  any  thing  but  the  things  of  religion, 
and  no  appearance  of  any,  but  fpiritual  mirth. 

"Thofe  amongll  us  that  had  been  formerly  converted,  were  great- 
ly enlivened  and  renewed  with  fredi  and  extraordinarv  incomco  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  ....  Many  that  before  had  laboured  under  diffi- 
culties about  their  own  ftate,  had  now  their  doubts  removed  by 
more  fatisfying  experience,  and  more  clear  difcoveries  of  God's 
love.     And  there  were  many  inilances  of  perfons  that  caiiiefrom 

abroad. 


472        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

(4.)    I  proceed  now   to  the  laft  thing  piopofed  relating 
to  the  fuccefs  of    Chrift's  redemption  during  this  fpace, 
viz.  what  the  ftate  of  things  is  now  in  the  world  with  re- 
gard 

abroad,  on  vifits,  or  on  bufniefs,  that  had  not  been  long  here  be- 
fore, to  all  appearance  they  were  favingly  wrought  upon,  and 
partook  of  that  fhower  of  divine  bleffing  that  God  rained  down 
here,  and  went  home  rejoicing  ;  till  at  length  the  fame  work  be- 
gan evidently  to  appear  and  prevail  iu  feveial  other  towns  In  the 
county." 

Mr.  Edwards  particularly  inftanccs  South  Hadley,  Sufiield, 
Deerfield,  flatfield.  Weft  Springfield,  Long  Meadow,  Enfield, 
Weftfield,  Hadley  Old  Town,  North  field,  Windfor,  Coventry, 
Lebanon,  Durham,  Stratford,  Ripton,  Guildford,  Mansfield, 
Hebron,  Bolton,  Prefton,  and  even  in  fome  parts  of  the  Jerfeys: 
fome  of  the  minlfters  who  were  peculiarly  blefied  in  the  above 
places  were,  befides  our  author,  Meffrs.  Bull,  Marfli,  Meachum, 
Wheelock,  Chancey,  Gould,  Noyes,  Williams,  Lord,  Owen, 
W.  and  G.  Tennant,  Crofs,  Freelinghaufa,  &c. 

"  I  am  far  from  pretending  (continues  our  author)  to  be  able 
to  determine  how  many  have  lately  been  the  fubjefts  of  fuch 
mercy  ;  but  if  I  may  be  allowed  to  declare  any  thing  that  appears 
to  me  probable  in  a  thing  of  this  nature,  I  hope  that  more  than 
300  fouls  were  favingly  brought  home  to  Chrift  in  this  town,  in 
the  fpace  of  half  a  year,  {how  many  more  I  don't  guefs)  and  about 
the  fame  number  of  males  as  females  ....  And  I  hope  that  by  far 
the  greater  part  of  perfons  in  this  town,  above  16  years  of  age,  are 
fuch  as  have  the  faving  knowledge  of  Jcfus  Chrill  ;  and  fo  by  what 
I  have  heard,  I  fuppofe  it  is  in  fome  other  places,  particularly  at 
Sunderland  and  South  Hadley.  ...  I  fuppofe  there  were  upwards 
of  fifty  perfons  in  this  town  above  40  years  of  age  ;  and  more 
than  twenty  of  them  above  50,  and  about  10  of  them  above  60, 
and  two  of  them  above  70  years  of  age.  ...  I  fuppofe,  near  thirty 
were  to  appearance  fo  wrought  upon  between  10  and  14  years  of 
age,  and  two  between  9  and  i  o,  and  one  of  about  4  years  of  age. 

"  The  work  of  God's  fpirit  fcemed  to  be  at  its  grcateft  height  in 
this  town,  in  the  former  part  of  thefpring;  at  which  time  God's 
work  in  the  converfion  of  fouls  was  carried  on  amongft  us  in  fo 
wonderful  a  manner,  that  fo  far  as  I,  by  looking  back,  can  judge 
from  the  particular  acquaintance  I  have  had  with  fouls  in  this  work, 
it  appears  to  me  probable,  to  have  been  at  the  rate,  at  leafl,  of 
four  perfons  in  a  day,  or  near  thirty  in-  a  week,  take  one  with  ano- 
ther, for  five  or  fix  weeks  together  :  when  God  in  fo  remarkable  a 
manner  took  the  work  into  his  own  hands,  there  was  as  much  done 
in  a  day  or  two,  as  at  ordinary  times,  with  all  endeavoms  that  men 
can  ufe,  and  with  fach  a  bleffing  as  we  commonly  have,  is  done  in 
a  year.  [Narrative,  p.  14 — 29.] 

V/hile 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        47.} 

garcl  to  the  church  of  Chrilt,  and  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's 
purchafe.  And  this  I  would  do,  by  fhowing  how  things 
now  are,  ccmpared  with  the  firfl:  times  of  the  Reformation. 
And,  I.  Wlierein  the  ftatc  of  things  is  changed  for  the 
worfe  ;  and,  2.   How  it  is  altered  for  the  better. 

[i.]  I  would  Ihow  wherein  the  ftate  of  things  is  al- 
tered from  what  it  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  Refor- 
mation, for  the  worfe,  and  it  is  fo  efpecially  in  thefe  three 
rcfpecfts. 

Firft,  The  Reformed  church  is  much  diminifhed.  The 
Reformation  formerly,  as  was  obferved  before,  was  fup- 
pofed  to  take  place  through  one  half  of  Chriftendom,  ex- 
cepting the  Greek  church  ;  but  now  the  Proteftant  church 
is  much  diminiHied.  Heretofore  there  have  been  many 
fai-nous  Proteftant  churches  in  different  parts  of  France 
who  ufed  to  meet  together  in  fynods,  and  maintain  a  regu- 
lar difcipline  ;  and  great  part  of  that  kingdom  were  Pro- 
teflants  ;  the  Proteftant  ciiurch  of  France  was  a  great  part 
of  the  glory  of  the  Reformation.  But  now  it  is  far  other- 
wife  :  this  church  is  all  broken  to  pieces  and  fcattcred. 
The  ProteRant  Religion  is  almoft  wholly  rooted  out  of 
that  kingdom  by  the  cruel  perfecutions  which  have  been 
there,  and  there  are  now  but  very  few  Proteflant  affem- 
blies  in  all  that  kingdom.-— The  Proteflant  interefr  is  aifo 
greatly  diminiflied  in  Germany.    There  were  fevcral  love- 

3  1*  reign 

While  we  are  confiderlng  the  wonderful  works  of  God  in  Ame- 
rica, we  cannot  perfuade  ourfelves  to  omit  the  remarkable  fuccefs 
which  attended  the  miniftry  of  the  excellent  Mr.  Whitefield  in 
different  parts  of  America,  in  the  years  1738,  1740,  and  177c, 
where  incredible  numbers  attended  his  miniftry,  and  much  good 
was  done  ;  it  may  be  needlefs  to  mention,  that  in  Georgia  he 
founded  an  orphan  hoiife  on  a  plan  fimilar  to  that  of  FrotefTor 
Franck,  above  mentioned. 

Prolix  as  this  note  may  appear,  we  cannot  deny  ourfelves  the 
pleafure  of  adding,  that  in  the  year  i  764,  the  gofpel  wa3  remark- 
ably fuccecded  in  Long  Illand.  At  Eail  Hampton  only,  where  a 
Mr.  Bull  was  niinifter,  nearly  200  appeared  to  be  truly  converted, 
with  circumflances  neaily  fimilar  to  the  great  work  mentioned  by 
Mr.  Edwards.  At  Huntingdon,  Smith  Town,  Bridge  Hampton, 
and  Sonthold  alfo,  the  like  work  was  carried  on,  to  the  glory  ot 
divine  grace,  and  falvalion  of  multitudes.  i_^I.  N.J 


474        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

reign  princes  formerly  who  were  Proteftants,  whofe  fuc- 
ceflbrs  are  now  Papiils ;  as,  particularly  the  Ele6lor  Pala- 
tine, and  the  Elector  of  Saxony.  The  kingdom  of  Bo- 
hemia was  formerly  a  Proteftant  kingdom,  but  is  now  in 
the  hands  of  the  Papifls :  Hungary  was  alfo  formerly  a 
Proteftant  country  ;  but  the  Proteftants  there  have  been 
greatly  reduced,  in  a  great  meafure  fubdued,  by  the  perfe- 
cuticns  there.  And  the  Proteftant  intereft  has  no  way  re- 
markably gained  ground  of  late  of  the  church  of  Rome. 

Another  thing  wherein  the  ftate  of  things  is  altered  for 
the  worfe  from  what  was  in  the  former  times  of  the  Re- 
formation, is  the  prevailing  of  I'lcentioiifnefs  in  principles 
and  opinions.  There  is  not  now  that  fpirit  of  ortho- 
doxy which  there  was  then  :  there  is  very  little  appearance 
of  zeal  for  the  myftcrious  and  fpiritual  doftrines  of  Chril- 
tianity  ;  and  they  never  were  fo  ridiculed,  and  had  in  con- 
tempt, as  tliey  are  in  the  prefent  age  ;  and  efpecially  in 
England,  the  principal  kingdom  of  tlie  Reformation.  In 
this  kingdom,  thofe  principles,  on  which  the  power  of 
godlinefs  depends,  are  in  a  great  meaiure  exploded,  and 
Arianifm,  Socinianifm,  Arminianifm  and  Deifm,  prevail, 
and  carry  almoft  all  before  them,  (p)  And  particularly 
hiftory  gives  no  account  of  any  age  wherein  there  was  fo 

great 

(p)  "Diisu  prevails. ~\  This  note  will  prefent  the  reader  with 
the  dying  words  of  two  of  the  mod  celebrated  Infidels  the  age  has 
produced.  Rotijfeati,  in  the  article  of  death,  faid  to  his  wife, 
'  Ah  !  my  dear,  how  happy  a  thing  is  it  to  die,  when  one  has  no 
realon  for  remorfe  or  felf-reproach. — Eternal  Being  !  the  foul  that 
I  am  now  going  to  give  thee  back,  is  as  pure,  at  this  moment,  as 
it  was  when  it  proceeded  from  thee  :— render  it  partaker  of  thy 
felicity  !'  After  a  few  more  fentences  he  dropt  gently  on  the  floor, 
fighed  and  expired. 

[See  PdUifofs  Eulogium.  Mon.  Rev.  Feb.  1779.] 

The  other  inftance  is  the  celebrated  Voltaire,  who  when  he 
drew  near  his  end,  in  order  to  die  in  piece,  and  have  Chrillian 
burial,  pretended  to  turn  catholic  ;  the  curate  of  St.  Sulpice  hav- 
ing, with  fomc  difllculty,  gained  admittance  to  his  chamber,  afl<s 
him  in  a  Hammering  voice, — '  Sir,  do  you  acknowledge  the  divi- 
nity of  JefusChri  ft  i" — Voltaire  exclainTed,  extending  his  arms — 
'  In  the  name  of  God,  Sir,  do  not  mention  that  man's  name  to 
me  V — Thefe  were  his  laft  words. 

[See  Voltaire'^  Life,  Men.  Rev.  Feb.  1788.] 


TO    THE    FALL   OF   ANTICHRIST.       475 

great  an  apoftafy  of  thofe  who  had  been  brought  up  under 
the  h"ght  of  the  gofpel,  to  infidelity  ;  never  was  there  fucli 
a  reje6tion  of  all  revealed  religion  :  never  was  any  age 
wherein  was  fo  much  fcoffing  at  and  ridiculing  the  gofpel 
of  Chrift,  by  thofe  who  have  been  brought  up  under  gof- 
pel light,  as  at  this  day. 

Another  thing  wherein  things  are  altered  for  the  worfe, 
is,  that  there  is  much  lefs  of  the  prevalency  of  the  power 
of  godlinefs,  than  there  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  Re- 
formation. A  glorious  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
accompanied  the  firfi:  reformation,  not  only  to  convert 
multitudes  in  fo  fhort  a  time  from  popery  to  the  true  re- 
ligion, but  to  turn  many  to  God  and  true  godlinefs.  Re- 
ligion glorioufly  flouriflied  in  one  country  and  another,  as 
moft  remarkably  appeared  in  thofe  times  of  terrible  per- 
fecution,  which  have  already  been  fpoken  of.  But  now 
there  is  an  exceeding  great  decay  of  vital  piety  ;  yea,  it 
feems  to  be  defpifed,  called  enthufiafm,  whimfy,  and  fan- 
aticifm.  Thofe  who  are  truly  religious,  are  commonly 
looked  upon  to  be  crack-brained,  and  befide  their  right 
mind  ;  and  vice  and  profanenefs  dreadfully  prevail,  like  a 
flood  which  threatens  to  bear  down  all  before  it. 

But  I  proceed  to  (how,  [2.]  in  what  refpe6t  things 
are  altered  for  the  better  ;  tirft,  the  power  and  influence 
of  the  Pope  is  much  diminiflied.  Although,  fmce  the 
former  times  of  the  Reformation,  he  has  gained  ground 
in  extent  of  dominion  ;  yet  he  has  loll;  in  degree  of  in- 
fluence. The  vial  which  in  the  beginning  of  the  Refor- 
mation was  poured  out  on  the  throne  of  the  beaft,  to  the 
great  diminifhing  cf  his  power  and  authority  in  the  world 
has  continued  running  ever  fince.  The  Pope,  foon  after 
the  Reformation,  became  lefs  regarded  by  the  princes  of 
Europe  than  he  had  been  before.  Many  of  the  popifh 
princes  themfclves  feem  to  regard  him  very  little  more 
than  they  think  will  ferve  their  own  defigns  ;  of  which 
there  have  been  feveral  remarkable  proofs  and  inftances  of 
late.   (  Q^)  There 

(  Q^)  The  VKES2NTj?a/e  ofpoptry.'\  On  this  fubjeft  we  take  tlie 
liberty  to  add — i.  That  the  temponji  power  of  the  Pope  feems 

3  P  3  nearly 


476         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

There  is  far  lefs  perfecuhon  now  than  there  was  in  the 
firfl  times  of  the  Reformation.  You  have  heard  aheady 
how  dreadfully  perfecution  raged  in  the  former  times  of 
the  Reformation  ;  and  there  is  fomething  of  it  flill.  Some 
parts  of  the   proteftant   church  are  at  this  day  under  i)er- 

fecution, 

nearly  atari  end  :  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  King  of  France,  and 
other  catholic  piinces,  while  ihey  pay  a  ceremonial  refpeft  to  the 
perfon  of  his  Holinefs,  take  every  opportunity  to  weaken  his  au- 
thority. "  The  infallibility  of  the  Pope,  fays  Voltaire,  is  a  chi- 
mera not  believed  even  at  Rome,  and  yet  maintained;  and  the  Pope 
a  facred  perfon  whofe  feet  are  to  be  kiffed,  and  his  hands  bound." 

2.  Yet  the  y^'V/VW  authority  of  the  Pope  is  ftill  regarded,  at 
lead  by  the  vulj^ar.  A  popifli  tract,  publifhed  within  thefe  few 
years,  ftates  the  principles  of  popery  thus,  "  All  and  every  catho- 
lic, throughout  tlie  Avhole  world,  does  believe  as  the  council  of 
Trent  has  decreed,  whether  they  know  the  words  of  the  decree  or 
not ;  becaufe  all  catholics  have  an  implicit  faith  in  the  church,  that 
is,  they  all  believe  as  the  church  believes,  whether  they  examine 
into  the  matter  itfelfor  not,  and  that  purely  on  her  imerring  au- 
thority ;  an  explicit  faith  being  not  required  ;  for  if  an  explicit 
faith  was  required,  there  is  few  would  be  catholics,  becaufe  there 
is  not  perhaps  one  priell  in  twenty  that  can  give  a  plain  and  pofi- 
tive  account  of  all  the  articles  of  faith  which  the  church  has  ordain- 
ed."   [Old  Fafhicned  Farmer's  Reafons  for  turning  Catholic.  S:c.] 

In  France  indeed,  and  feme  other  countries,  the  principles  of 
popery  are  fomewhat  relined ;  many  of  its  fuperftitions  dropped, 
and  monafteries  grow  into  general  difrepute  :  hut  in  Portugal  the 
fame  religious  farces  are  afted  in  Pallion  Week  as  formerly,  and 
the  blood  of  St.  Januarius  Is  ftill  pretended  to  be  liquified  annually 
with  the  fame  ridiculous  circumftances  as  aforetime. 

3.  We  fhall  conclude  this  note  with  the  character  of  the  prefent 
Pope,  from  a  celebrated  Modern  Traveller — "  Pius  VI.  (formerly 
Cardinal  Bcofchi)  performs  all  the  religious  functions  of  his  office 
in  the  moft  folemn  manner. — I  lately  happened  to  be  at  St.  Peter's 
church  when  there  was  fcarccly  any  body  there;  .  .  .  the  Pope  en- 

,  tered  with  a  very  few  attendants;  when  he  came  to  the  ftatue  of 
St.  Peter  ....  he  bowed,  he  kneeled,  he  kiffed  the  foot,  and  then 
rubbed  his  brow  and  his  whole  head  with  every  mark  of  humility, 
fervour,  and  adoration,  upon  the  facred  ftump.  ...  It  Is  no  more, 
one  half  of  the  foot  having  been  long  fince  worn  by  the  lips  of  the 

pious This  uncommon  appearance  of  zeal  In  the  Pope,  is  not 

imputed  to  hypocrify,  or  to  policy  ;  but  is  fuppofed  to  proceed 
entirely  from  a  conviction  of  the  efficacy  of  thefe  holy  fritllons  ; 
an  opinion  which  has  given  people  a  much  higher  Idea  of  the 
ftrength  of  his  faith  than  his  underftandlng." 

[Dr.  Moore's  Viewof  Soc.  and  Mann,  in  Italy.  Let.  64.] 


TO   THE    FALL    OF    ANTICHRIST.       477 

fecution,  and  fome  probably  will  be  fo  until  the  church's 
iuffering  and  travail  is  at  an  end,  which  will  not  be  till 
the  fall  of  antichrifl:.  But  it  is  now  in  no  meafure  as  it 
was  heretofore.  Theie  does  not  feem  to  be  the  fame  fpirit 
of  perfecution  prevailing  ;  it  is  become  more  out  of  falhion 
even  among  the  popilh  princes.  The  wickednefs  of  the 
enemies  of  Chrifl:,  and  the  oppofition  againft  his  caufe, 
feem  to  run  in  another  channel.  The  humour  now  is,  to 
defpife  and  laugh  at  all  religion  ;  and  there  feems  to  be  a 
fpirit  of  indifferency  about  it.  However,  fo  far  the  ftatc 
of  things  is  better  than  it  has  been,  that  there  is  fo  much 
lefs  of  perfecution. 

There  is  a  great  increafe  of  learning  :  in  the  dark  times 
of  popery  before  the  Reformation,  learning  was  fo  far  de- 
cayed, that  the  world  feem  to  be  over-run  with  barbarous 
ignorance.  Their  very  priefls  were  many  of  them  grofsly 
isrnoranl.  Learnins  bejjan  to  revive  with  the  Reforma- 
tion,  which  was  owing  very  much  to  the  art  of  printing, 
which  was  invented  a  little  before  the  Reformation  ;  and 
fince  that,  learning  has  increafed  more  and  more,  and  at 
this  day  is  undoubtedly  raifed  to  a  greater  height  than 
ever  it  was  before  :  and  thouHi  little  srood  ufe  is  made  of 
it  by  the  greater  part  of  learned  men,  yet  the  increafe  of 
learning  in  itfelf  is  a  thing  to  be  rejoiced  in,  becaufe  it  is, 
if  duly  ufed,  an  excellent  handmaid  to  divinity,  and  is  a 
talent  which,  if  God  gives  men  an  heart,  affords  them  an 
opporcunity  to  do  great  things  for  the  advancement  of 
the  kingdom  of  Chrill,  and  the  good  of  fouls.  That 
learning  and  knowledge  lliould  greatly  increafe  before  the 
glorious  times,  feems  to  be  foretold.  [Dan.  xii.  4.]  '  But 
'  thou,  O  Daniel,  (hut  up  the  words,  and  feal  the  book, 
'  even  to  the  time  of  the  end  :  many  ihall  run  to  and  fro, 
'  and  knowledge  fhall  be  increafed.'  And  however  little 
now  learning  is  applied  to  the  advancement  of  religion  ; 
yet  we  may  hope  that  the  days  are  approaching  wliereiii 
God  will  make  great  ufe  of  it  for  the  advancement  of  the 
kingdom  of  Chrill:. 

God  in  his  providence  now  feems  to  be  a5\ing  over 
again  the  fame  part  which  he  did  a  litib  before  Chrifl 

tame. 


478        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

came.  In  the  age  wherein  Chrift  came  into  the  world, 
learning  greatly  prevailed  and  was  at  a  greater  height  than 
ever  it  had  been  before  ;  and  yet  wickedncfs  never  pre- 
vailed more  than  then.  God  was  pleafed  to  fufFer  human 
learning  to  come  to  fuch  a  height  before  he  fent  the  gof- 
pel  into  the  world,  that  they  might  fee  the  infufficiency 
of  their  own  wifdom  for  obtaining  the  knowledge  of  God  : 
when  the  golpel  had  prevailed  tirft  without  the  help  of 
man's  wifdom,  then  God  was  pleafed  to  make  ufe  of 
learning  as  an  handmaid.  So  now  learning  is  at  a  height 
beyond  what  it  was  in  the  age  when  Chrift  appeared  ; 
and  yet  men  trufting  to  their  learning,  they  grope  in  the 
day  time  as  in  the  night.  Learned  men  are  exceedingly 
divided  in  their  opinions  concerning  matters  of  religion, 
and  run  into  all  manner  of  pernicious  errors.  They  fcorn 
to  fubmit  their  reafon  to  divine  revelation,  to  believe 
any  thing  that  is  above  their  comprehenfion  ;  and  fo  being 
wife  in  their  own  eyes,  they  become  fools,  and  even 
vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  turn  the  truth  of  God 
into  a  lie,  and  rheir  foolifh  hearts  are  darkened.  [Sec 
Rom.  i.  21,  &c.] 

But  yet,  when  God  has  fufficiently  fliown  men  the  in- 
fufficiency of  human  wifdom  and  learning  for  the  purpofes 
of  religion,  and  when  the  appointed  time  comes  for  that 
glorious  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  when  he  will 
himfelf  by  his  own  inmiediate  influence  enlighten  mens' 
minds  ;  then  may  we  hope  that  God  will  make  ufe  of  the 
great  increafe  of  learning,  as  a  means  of  a  glorious  ad- 
vancement of  the  kingdom  of  his  Son.  Then  fliall  hu- 
man learning  be  fubfervient  to  the  underftanding  of  the 
fcriptures,  and  to  a  clear  explanation  and  a  gloiious  de- 
fence of  the  do6lrines  of  Chriftianity.  And  there  is  no 
doubt  to  be  made  of  it,  that  God  in  his  providence  has 
of  late  given  the  world  the  art  of  printing,  and  fuch  a 
great  increafe  of  learning,  to  prepare  for  what  he  defigns 
to  accomplilh  for  his  church  in  the  approaching  days  of 
its  profperity. 

Having 


TO   THE   FALL   OF  ANTICHRIST.       479 

Having  now  fhown  how  the  work  of  redemption  has 
been  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  prefent  time, 
before  I  proceed  any  further,  I  would  make  fome  Ap- 
plication. 

From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  great  evidence  of 
the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  that  the  fcriptures 
are  the  word  of  God.  There  are  three  arguments  of  this, 
which  I  {hall  take  notice  of,  which  may  be  drawn  from 
what  has  been  faid. 

(i.)  It  may  be  argued  from  that  violent  and  inveterate 
oppofition  there  has  always  appeared  of  the  wickednefs 
of  the  world  again  ft  this  religion.  The  religion  that  tlie 
church  of  God  has  profefled  from  the  hrft,  has  always 
been  the  fame  as  to  its  eflentials.  The  church  of  God 
from  the  beginning,  one  fociety.  The  Chriftian  church 
which  has  been  fince  Chrift's  afcenfion,  is  manifeftly  the 
fame  fociety  with  the  church  before  Chrift  came  :  they  are 
built  on  the  fame  foundation.  The  revelation  on  which 
both  have  depended,  is  effcntially  the  fame  ;  only  the  fub- 
je6ls  of  it  are  now  more  clearly  revealed  in  the  New  Tef- 
tament  than  they  were  in  the  Old.  The  church  before 
the  flood  was  built  on  the  foundation  of  thofc  revelations 
of  Chrift  which  were  given  to  Adam,  Abel,  and  Enoch, 
and  others  of  that  period.  The  church  after  the  flood  was 
built  on  the  revelations  made  to  Noah,  Abraham,  Melchi- 
fedek,  Ifaac,  Jacob,  Jofeph,  Job,  and  other  holy  men. 
After  this  the  church  depended  on  the  fcriptures  them- 
felvcs  as  they  gradually  increafed  ;  fo  that  the  church  of 
God  has  always  been  built  on  the  foundation  of  divine  le- 
velations  which  were  cfTentially  the  fame,  and  are  fum- 
marily  comprehended  in  the  holy  fcriptures. 

So  that  the  oppofition  which  has  been  made  to  the 
church  of  God  in  all  ages,  has  aKvays  been  againft  the 
fame  religion,  and  the  fame  revelation.  Now  therefore 
the  violent  and  perpetual  oppofition  that  has  ever  been 
made  by  the  corruption  and  v^^ickednefs  of  mankind  againft 
the  church,  is  a  ftrong  argument  of  the  truth  of  this  reli- 
gion, and  the  revelation  upon  which  the  church  has  always 

been 


48o        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

been  built.  Contraries  are  well  argued  one  from  anothei". 
We  may  well  and  fafely  argue,  that  a  thing  is  good,  ac- 
cording to  the  degree  in  which  evil  oppoles  it.  Now  it  is 
evident,  that  the  wicked  world  has  had  a  perpetual  hatred 
to  the  church  and  her  religion,  and  has  made  nioft  violent 
oppoiition  againfl:  it. 

That  the  church  of  God  has  always  met  with  great 
oppofition  in  the  world,  none  can  deny.  This  is  plain 
by  profane  hiftory  fo  high  as  that  reaches  ;  and  before 
that,  divine  hiftory  gives  us  the  fame  account.  The 
church  of  God,  and  its  religion  and  worfhip,  began  to  be 
oppofed  in  Cain's  and  Abel's  time,  and  was  fo  when  the 
earth  was  filled  with  violence  in  Noah's  days.  And  af- 
ter this  the  church  was  oppofed  in  Egypt ;  and  Ifrael 
always  hated  by  the  nations  round  about,  agreeable  to  that 
text  [Jer.  xii.  9.]  '  Mine  heritage  is  unto  me  a  fpeck- 
'  led  bird,  the  birds  round  about  are  againfl  her.'  After 
the  Babylonilh  captivity,  the  church  was  perfecuted  by 
Antiochus  Epiphanes,  and  others.  And  how  was  Chrifl 
perfecuted  when  on  earth  !  and  the  apoftles  and  other 
Chriftians  by  the  Jews,  before  the  deflruftlon  of  Jerufa- 
lem  !  and  dreadful  v^^as  the  oppofition  of  the  heathen  world 
againfl  the  Chriflian  church  before  Conflantine  !  And 
lince  that,  yet  more  violent,  and  fpitetul,  and  cruel  has 
been  the  oppofition  of  antichrill:.— There  is  no  fuch  in- 
flance  of^oppofition  to  any  other  religion.  Other  profef- 
hons  have  enjoyed  their  religions  in  peace  and  quietnefs, 
however  they  have  differed  from  their  neighbours.  One 
nation  has  worfhipped  one  let  of  gods,  and  others  another, 
without  molefting  or  dillurbing  one  another  about  it. 
All  the  fpite  and  oppofition  has  been  again  ft  tlie  religion 
of  the  church  of  Chrifl  as  though  they  could  never  fatisfy 
their  cruelty,   (r)      They  put  their    inventions  upon  the 

rack 

( R  )  No  religion  pcrfecuied  like  the  Christian.]  Should  this  faft 
be  controverted,  we  beg  leave  to  obferve, 

I.  That  though  the  profefTors  of  otber  religions  have  pleaded 
the  fuffering  of  perfccution  ;  yet  it  has  feldom  been  vi^ith  the  fame 
truth.  The  jefuits  were  fome  years  fince  expelled  Japan  and  cal- 
led 


TO   THE    FALL  OF   ANTICHRIST.       481> 

rack  to  find  out  torments  that  fliould  be  cruel  enough  ;  and 
yet  their  thirfl;  has  never  been  fatisfied  with  blood. 

So  that  it  is  out  of  doubt,  that  this  religion,  and  the 
fcriptures,  have  always  been  malignantly  oppolcd  in  the 
world.  The  only  queftion  is,  whether  it  be  the  wicked- 
nefs  and  corruption  of  the  world,  or  not,  that  has  done 
this  ?  But  of  this  there  can  be  no  more  doubt  than  of  the 
other,  if  we  confidcr  how  caufelefs  this  cruelty  has  always 
been,  who  were  the  oppofers,  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  a6led.  The  oppofition  has  chiefly  been  from  hea- 
thenifm  and  popery  ;  which  are  both  of  them  very  evil,  and 
the  fruits  of  the  blindnefs,  corruption,  and  wickednefs 
of  men,  as  the  very  Deifls  tliemfelves  confefs.  The 
light  of  nature  iliows,  that  the  religion  of  Heathens,  con- 
fifting  in  the  worlhip  of  idols,  and  facrificing  their  chil- 
dren to  them,  and  in  obfcene  and  abominable  rites  and 
ceremonies,  is  wickednefs.  And  the  fuperftitious  idola- 
tries and  ufurpations,  of  the  church  of  Rome,  are  now 
lefs  contrary  to  the  light  of  reafon.  By  which  it  appears, 
that  the  oppofition  againft  the  church  of  God  has  been 
made  by  wikced  men.  And  with  regard  to  the  oppofition 
of  the  Jews  in  Chrift's  and  the  apoftles  times,  it  was 
when  the  people  were  generally  become  exceedingly  wick- 
ed, as  Jofcphus  and  other  Jewifii  writers  who  lived  about 
that  time  acknowledge.  And  that  it  has  been  mere  wick- 
ednefs thai  has  made  this  oppofition  is  manifeft:  from  the 

2  Q^  manner 

led  it  perfeciition  for  the  gofpel ;  but  it  is  well  known  that,  not  their 
religion,  but  their  treafonable  praftices,  procured  their  ruin. 

2.  That  though  the  papifts  have  gone  fo  much  beyond  their 
pagan  predeceflbrs  as  to  perfecute  all  religions  but  their  own.  Pa- 
gan, Jewlfh  and  Mahometan,  as  well  as  Proteftant ;  yet  thefe  have 
never  yet  been  fo  general,  nor  fo  long  continued.  Hiftory,  as  our 
author  rightly  obferves,  can  produce  no  other  inftance  of  perfecu- 
tion  being  continued  with  fo  little  intermiflion  for  fo  many  cen- 
turies. 

3.  That  though  religion  has  in  moft  cafes  been  the  pretence 
for  popifli  feverities,  it  has  often  not  been  the  true  caufe.  The 
Morifcoes  and  Jews  were  expelled  Spain,  and  diabolical  cruelties 
exercifcd  in  South  America,  rather  that  their  perfecutors  might 
have  a  pretence  for  fcizing  their  poffeflions,  than  from  any  zeal 
for  religion.  [G.  E.] 


|^.^2        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

maimer  of  the  oppofition,  the  extreme  violence,  injuftlce, 
and  cruelty,  with  which  the  church  of  God  has  been  treat- 
ed. It  feems  to  ihow  tlie  hand  of  malignant  infernal 
fpirits  in  it. 

Now  what  reafon  can  be  affigned,  why  the  corruption 
and  wickednefs  of  the  world  Ihould  fo  implacably  fet  it- 
felf  againft  the  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  againil:  the 
fcriptures,  but  only  that  they  are  contrary  to  wickednefs. 
and  conlequently  good  and  holy  ?  Why  iTiould  the  enemies 
of  Chrift,  for  fo  many  thoufand  years  together,  manifeft 
fuch  a  mortal  hatred  of  this  religion,  but  only  that  it  is 
the  caufe  of  God  ?  If  the  fcriptures  be  not  the  word  of 
God,  and  the  religion  of  tlie  church  of  Chrift  be  not  the 
true  religion,  then  it  muft  follow,  that  it  is  nothing  but 
a  pack  of  lies  and  delufions,  invented  by  tlie  enemies  of 
God  themfelves.  And  if  this  were  fo,  it  is  not  likclv 
that  the  enemies  of  God,  and  the  wickednefs  of  tlie  world, 
would  have  maintained  fuch  a  perpetual  and  implacable 
enmity  againft  it. 

(2.)  It  is  a  great  argument  that  the  Chrlftlan  church 
and  its  religion  is  from  God ;  that  it  has  been  upheld  hi- 
therto through  all  the  oppol'ition  and  dangers  it  has  met 
with.  That  the  church  of  God  and  the  true  religion, 
which  has  been  fo  continually  and  violently  oppoied,  with 
fo  many  endeavours  to  overthrow  it,  and  which  has  fo 
often  been  brought  to  the  brink  of  ruin,  and  almoft  fwal- 
lowed  up,  through  the  greateft  part  of  fix  thoufand  years, 
has  yet  been  upheld,  does  moft  remarkably  fhow  the  hand 
of  God  In  favour  of  it.  This,  If  properly  confidered,  will 
appear  one  of  the  greateft  wonders  and  miracles  that  ever 
came  to  pafs.  There  is  nothing  like  it  upon  the  face  of 
the  earth.  As  to  the  old  world,  which  was  before  the 
flood,  that  was  overthrown  by  a  deluge  of  waters;  but 
yet  the  church  of  God  was  preferved.  Satan's  vifible 
kingdom  on  earth  was  tlien  entirely  overthrown  ;  but 
the  vliible  kingdom  of  Chrift  never  has  been.  All  the  an- 
cient monarchies  of  -which  we  read  in  former  ages,  they 
are  long  fince  come  to  an  end  ;  they  have  all  grown  old, 
and  have  vanifticd    away;     '  The  liiodi  has  eaten  them 

'  up 


TO    THE    FALL    OF  ANTICHRIST.      483 

'  up  like  a  garment,   and  the   worm  has  eaten  them  like 
'  wool;'  but  yet  God's  church  remains. 

Never  were  there  fuch  potent  endeavours  to  deftroy 
any  thing  elfe,  as  there  has  been  to  deftroy  the  church. 
Other  kingdoms  and  focieties  of  men,  which  have  ap- 
peared to  be  ten  ti ,r,es  as  ftrong  as  the  church  of  God, 
have  been  deftroyed  with  an  hundredth  part  of  the  oppofi- 
tion  which  the  church  of  God  has  met  with  ;  which 
{hows,  that  it  is  God  who  has  been  the  proteitor  of  the 
church.  For  it  is  moft  plain,  that  it  has  not  upheld  it- 
felf  by  its  own  ftrength  ;  for  the  moil:  part,  it  has  been 
.1  very  weak  fociety.  The  children  of  Hiacl  were  but  a 
finall  handful  of  people  in  comparifon  of  thofe  who  often 
fought  their  overthrow.  And  in  Chrift's  time,  and  in 
the  beginning  of  the  Chriftian  church  after  his  refurrec- 
tion,  they  were  but  a  remnant;  whereas  the  whole  mul- 
titude of  the  Jewifh  nation  were  againft  them.  And  fo 
in  the  beginning  of  the  Gentile  church  :  they  were  but  a 
fmall  number  in  comparifon  with  their  heathen  perfecu- 
tors.  Alfo  in  the  dark  time  of  antichrift,  before  the  re- 
formation, thev  were  but  a  handful  ;  and  yet  their  ene- 
mies could  not  overthrow  them.  And  it  has  commonly 
happened  that  the  enemies  of  the  church  have  not  only 
had  the  greateft  number,  but  alfo  the  civil  authority  on 
their  iide.  So  in  Egypt,  Ifrael  were  only  flaves  to  the 
Egyptians,  and  yet  they  could  not  deftroy  them.  Like- 
wile  in  the  time  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  under  the  hea- 
then Roman  government,  and  for  the  moft  part  fince  the 
rife  of  antichrift,  the  civil  power  was  all  on  the  fide  of 
the  perfecutors,  and  the  church  feemed  to  be  in  their 
hands.  And  not  only  has  the  ftrength  of  the  enemies  of 
the  church  been  greateft,  but  ordinarily  the  church  has 
not  ufed  what  ftrength  they  have  had  in  their  own  defence, 
but  have  committed  themfelves  wholly  to  God.  So  it 
was  in  the  Jewifti  perfecutions  before  the  deftru6lion  of 
Jerufalem  by  the  Romans ;  and  in  the  heathen  perfecu- 
tions before  Conftantine,  the  Chriftians  did  not  attempt 
to  make  any  forcible  refiftance  to  their  heathen  perfecu- 
tors.    So  it  Jias  for  the  moft  part  been  under  the  Popiih 

3  Q_2  perfceutors. 


484        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

perfecutors.  So  it  has  for  the  mofl  part  been  under  the 
Popifh  perfecutions ;  and  yet  they  have  never  been  able 
to  overthrow^  the  church  of  God :  but  it  ftands  to  this 
very  day. 

This  is  ftill  the  more  wonderful,  if  we  confider  how 
often  the  church  has  been  brought  to  the  brink  of  ruin, 
and  the  cafe  feemed  to  be  defperate.  In  the  time  of  the 
old  world,  wickednefs  fo  prevailed,  that  but  one  religious 
family  was  left.  At  the  Red  Sea,  when  Pharaoh  and  his 
hoft  thought  they  were  quite  fure  of  their  prey ;  and 
from  time  to  time  in  the  church  of  Ifrael,  God  deli- 
vered them,  as  has  been  fliovvn.  Thus  under  the  tenth 
and  lafl:  heathen  pcrfecution,  their  perfecutors  boafted 
that  they  had  deftroyed  the  Chriftians,  and  overthrown  the 
church  ;  yet  in  the  midft  of  their  triumph,  the  Chriflian 
church  rifes  out  of  the  duft  and  prevails,  and  the  heathen 
empire  totally  falls  before  it.  So  when  the  Chriftian 
church  feemed  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up  by  Arianilm, — 
when  antichrift  rofe  and  prevailed,  and  all  the  world 
wondered  after  the  beaft,  and  the  church  for  many  hun- 
dred years  was  reduced  to  a  very  fmall  number,  and  the 
power  of  the  world  was  engaged  to  deftroy  them  ;  yet 
they  could  never  fully  accomplifli  their  defign,  and  at 
laft  God  wonderfully  revived  his  church  in  the  time  of 
the  Reformation,  and  made  it  to  ftand  as  it  were  on  its 
feet  in  the  fight  of  its  enemies,  and  raifed  it  out  of  their 
reach.  And  fo  fince,  when  the  Popifh  powers  have  plot- 
ted the  overthrow  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  have 
feemed  juft  about  to  bring  their  matters  to  a  conclufion, 
and  to  finiflx  their  defign,  then  God  has  wonderfully  ap- 
peared for  the  deliverance  of  his  church,  as  it  was  in  the 
revolution  by  King  William.  And  fo  it  has  been  from 
time  to  time :  prefently  after  the  darkeit  times,  God  has 
made  his  church  mofl  glorioufly  to  fiouriHi. 

If  the  prefervation  of  the  church  of  God,  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  hitherto,  attended  with  fuch  cir- 
cumflances,  is  not  fufficient  to  fliow  a  divine  hand  in  fa- 
vour of  it,  what  can  be  devifed  that  would  be  fo  ?  But  if 
this  be  from  the  divine  hand,  then  God  owns  the  church 

and 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.         485 

and  her  religion,  and  thofe  fcriptures  on  which  (he  is  built: 
and  fo  it  will  follow,  that  this  is  the  true  religion,  and  that 
the  fcriptures  are  God's  word. 

Ij-)  ^^  "^''y  ^^'^"w  a  further  argument  for  the  divine 
authority  of  the  fcriptures  from  the  fulfilment  of  thofe 
things  which  are  foretold  in  the  fcriptures.— T  have  already 
obferved,  as  I  went  along,  how  the  prophecies  in  fcripture 
were  fulfilled  :  I  (liall  now  therefore  fingle  out  but  two  in- 
ftances  of  the  fulfilment  of  fcripture  prophecy. 

[i.]  One  is  in  preferving  his  church  from  being  ruined. 
I  have  jufl:  now  fliown  Vv'hat  an  evidence  this  is  of  the 
divine  authority  of  the  fcriptures,  in  itfelf  confidered  ;  I 
now  fpeak  of  it  as  a  fulfilment  of  fcripture  prophecy.  This 
is  abundantly  foretold  and  promifed  in  the  fcriptures,  as 
particularly  in  the  text :  there  it  is  foretold,  that  other 
things  fhall  fail,  other  kingdoms  and  monarchies,  which 
fet  themfelves    in    oppofition,    fliould  come   to    nothing  : 

*  The  moth  fliall  eat  them  up  like  a  garment,  and  the 
'  worm  fliall  eat  them  like  wool  :'  and  fo  it  has  in  fa6l 
come  to  pafs.  But  it  is  alfo  foretold,  that  God's  cove- 
nant mercy  to  his  church  fliall  continue  for  ever :  and  fo 
it  has  hitlierto  proved,  though  now  ii  be  fo  many  ages 
fmce,  and  though  the  church  has  pafTed  through  fo  many 
dangers.  The  fame  is  promifed  in  Ifaiah,  [liv.  17.]  *  No 
'  weapon  that  is  formed  againft  thee  fhall  profper  ;  and 
'  every   tongue  that  fhall  rife  againft    thee   in  judgment 

*  thou  ihalt  condemn.'  And  again,  [chap.  xlix.  14— 
16.]  '  But  Sion  faid,  the  Lord  hath  forfaken  me,  and  my 
'   Lord   hath    forgotten   me.       Can    a   woman   forget   her 

*  fucking  child,  that  fhe  fhould  not  have  compafTion  on  the 

*  fon  of  her  womb  ?  Yea,  they  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not 
'  forget  thee.  Behold  I  have  graven  thee  upon  the  palms 
'  of  my  hands,  thy  walls  are  continually  before  me.'  [See 
alfo  chap.  lix.  21.  and  xllii.  i,  2.  and  Zech.  xli.  2,  3.] 
So  Chrift  proniifes  the  fame,  [Matt.  xvi.  18.]  '  On  this 
'  rock    will  I  build   my   church,    and   the  gates   of   hell 

*  fhall  not  prevail  againft  it.'  Now  if  the  fcriptures  (be 
not  the  word  of  God,  and  the  churcli  built  on  them  lie 
pot  of  God,    how  could  the    perfons   who  foretold   this, 

know 


486        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

know  it  ?  For  If  the  church  were  not  of  God,  it  was  a  very 
ttnlikely  thing  ever  to  come  to  pafs.  For  they  foretold 
that  other  kingdoms  fliould  come  to  nothing  ;  alfo  the 
great  oppofition  the  churcli  fhould  meet  with,  and  the 
many  dangers  with  which  flie  fhould  be  almoft  fwallowed 
up,  (as  it  were  eafy  to  iliow,)  and  yet  foretold  that  the 
church  fhould  remain.  Now  how  could  they  forefee  fo 
unlikely  a  thing  but  by  divine  infpiration  ? 

[2.]  The  other  remarkable  inftance  which  I  Ihall  men- 
tion of  the  fulfilment  of  fcripture  prophecy,  is  in  what  is 
foretold  concerning  antichr'iji,  a  certain  great  oppofer  of 
Chrift  and  his  kingdom.— And  (i.)  It  is  foretold  that 
this  antichrifi:  fliould  arife  not  among  the  heathen  ;  but 
that  he  fliould  arife  by  the  apoftafy  and  falling  away  of 
the  Chriflian  church.  [2  Thef.  ii.  3.]  '  For  that  day 
'  fliall  not  come,  except  there  come  a  falling  away  firft, 
'  and  that  man  of  fin  be  revealed,  the  fon  of  perdition.' — 
(2.)  That  he  fhould  fet  himfelf  up  in  the  temple  or  vifible 
church  of  God,  pretending  to  be  vefted  with  the  power  ot 
God  himfelf,  as  head  of  the  church,  [ver.  4.]  (3.)  It  is 
intimated,  that  the  rife  of  antichrift  fhould  be  gradual, 
[ver  7.]  '  For  the  myflery  of  iniquity  doth  already  work  : 
'  only  he  who  now  letteth,  will  let,  until  he  be  taken  out 
'  of  the  way, —  (4.)  It  is  prophefied  that  he  fhould  be  a 
great  prince  or  monarch  of  the  Roman  empire:  fo  he  is 
reprefented  as  an  horn  of  the  fourth  beaft  in  Daniel,  or 
fourth  kingdom  or  monarchy  upon  earth,  as  the  angel 
himfelf  explains  it,  of  the  little  horn.  [Daniel  vii.  24.]— 
(5.)  It  was  prcdi6led  that  his  feat  fliouid  be  in  the  city  of 
Rome  itfelf ;  fo  it  is  faid  exprefsly,  that  the  fpiritual  whore, 
or  falfe  church,  fliould  have  her  feat  on  fcven  mountains 
or  hills:  [Rev.  xvii..6.]  '  The  feven  heads  are  fevcn 
'  mountains  on  which  the  woman  fitteth:'  and  [ver. 
18.]  '  The  woman  which  thou  faweil,  is  that  great  city 
•  which  reigneth  over  the  kings  of  the  earth  ;'  which  it 
is  certain  was  at  that  time  the  city  of  Rome.— (6.)  It 
was  prophefied,  that  this  antichrilt  fhould  reign  over  peo- 
ples, and  multitudes,  and  nations,  and  tongues,  [Rev. 
xvii.  15.]  and  that  all  the  world  fhonkl  wonder  after  the 

beaft. 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        487 

beaft.  [Rev.  xiii.  3.]-— (?•)  That  he  fliould  be  remarkable 
for  his  pride,  pretending  to  great  things,  and  affuming  very- 
much  to  himfelf;  [2  Thef.  ii.  4.]  '  'J'hat  he  iliould 
'  exalt  himfelf  above  all  that  is  called  God,  or  that  is  wor- 
'  ihipped.'  [Rev.  xiii.  5.]  '  And  there  was  given  unto 
'  him  a  mouth  Ipeaking  great  things,  and  blafphemies.' 
[Dan  vii.  20.]  The  little  horn  is  faid  to  have  a  moutli 
fpeaking  very  great  things,  and  his  look  to  be  more  ftout 
than  his  fellows.— (8.)  That  he  fliould  be  a  cruel  perfe- 
cutor,  [Dan.  vii.  21.]  The  fame  horn  made  war  with 
the  faints,  and  prevailed  againft  them:  [Rev.  xiii.  7.] 
'  And  it  was  given  to  him  to  make  war  with  the  faints, 
'  and  to  overcome  them.'     [Rev.  xvii.  6.]    '  And  I  faw 

*  the  woman  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the  faints,  and 

*  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jefus.'~-(9.)  That 
he  fhould  excel   in  craft  and  policy,   [Dan.  vii.  8.]     'In 

*  this  horn  were  eyes  like  the  eyes  of  a  mart.'     [ver.  20.] 

*  Even  of  that  horn  that  had  eyes.'  This  alfo  came  to 
pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome.— (10.)  It  was  foretold, 
that  the  kings  of  Chriftcndom  Hiould  be  fubje£l  to  anti- 
chrift:  [Rev.   xvii.    12,   13.]    '  And  the  ten  horns  which 

*  thou  faweft,  are  ten  kings,  which  have  received  no  king- 
'  dom  as  yet;  but  receive  power  as  kings  one  hour  with 
'  the  beafl:.  Thefe  have  one  mind,  and  Ihall  give  their 
'  power  and  flrength  unto  the  beaft.'— (n.)  That  he 
fhould  perform  pretended  miracles  and  lying  wonders: 
[2  Thef.  ii.  9.]  '  Whofc  coming  is  after  the  working  of 
'  Satan,  with  all  power,  and  figns,  and  lying  wonders.' 
[Rev.   xiii.    13,   14.]     '  And  he  doth  great  wonders,    fo 

*  that  he  maketh   fire  come  down  from   heaven  on   the 

'  earth,    in  tlie  fight  of  men,    and  deceiveth  them  that 

'  dwell  on  the  earth,  by  the  means  of  thofe  miracles  which 

'  he  had  power  to  do  in  the  fight  of  the  beaft.'  (s)      Fire's 

comino- 
o 

(s)  Popi/Jj  MIRACLES.]  Thcfc  may  be  divided  into  two  clafTes, 
neither  of  which  defcrve  the  name  of  miracles^  the  foimei  being 
mere  fiftions,  and  the  latter,  tricks  of  priefts. 

I.  Of  the  former  little  need  be  faid,  as  to  mention  is  to  expofc 
and  refute  thera.      That  St.  Dcnys,  or  St.  Juftinian,  walked  with 

their 


488        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

coining  down  from  heaven  feems  to  have  reference  to  the 
popiih   excommunications,    which  were   dreaded  like  fire 
from  heaven.— ( 12.)   It  was  foretold,  that  he  Ihould  for- 
bid 

their  heads  under  their  arms — that  the  Virgin  Mary  held  Bec- 
ket's  fhirt  while  he  mended  it — or  that  a  band  of  angels  moved 
her  cottage  from  Judea  to  Loretto  by  night — Thefe  may  pro- 
voke our  rifibility,  but  will  hardly  now  command  belief  even 
from  Papifts. 

But,  z.  We  admit  many  of  the  fafts  they  pretend,  though  we 
deny  there  was  any  miracle  in  them,  except  indeed  the  credulity 
of  the  multitude.  To  pafs  by  the  trick  of  fpeaking  and  moving 
images,  which  are  now  no  fccret  ;  we  fliall  prefent  our  readers 
with  tv/o  inftances  of  the  miraculous  powers  of  the  Roman  church, 
one  for  its  ingenuity,  the  other  for  its  recentnefs. 

"  St.  Anthony  is  commonly  thought  to  have  a  great  command 
over  fire,  and  a  power  of  deftroying  by  flafhes  of  that  element 
thofe  who  incur  his  difpleafure.  ....  A  certain  monk  of  St.  An- 
thony .  .  .  one  day  affembled  his  congregation  under  a  tree  where 
a  magpie  had  built  her  ncft,  into  which  he  had  found  means  to 
convey  a  fmall  box  filled  with  gunpowder,  and  out  of  the  box 
hung  a  long  thin  match  that  was  to  burn  llovvly,  and  was  hidden 
among  the  leaves  of  the  trees.  As  foon  as  the  monk  or  his  aflif- 
tant  had  touched  the  match  with  a  lighted  coal,  he  began  his  fer- 
mon.  In  the  mean  while  the  magpie  returned  to  her  nefl;  and 
finding  in  it  a  flrange  body  which  fhe  could  not  remove,  fhe  fell 
into  a  pafTion,  and  began  to  fcratch  with  her  feet,  and  chatter 
mofl  unmercifully.  The  friar  affected  to  hear  her  without  emo- 
tion, and  continued  his  fermon  with  great  compofure  ;  only  he 
would  now  and  then  lift  up  his  eyes  towards  the  top  of  the  tree, 
as  if  he  wanted  to  fee  what  was  the  matter.  At  laft,  when  he 
judged  the  match  was  near  reaching  the  gunpowder,  he  pretended 
to  be  quite  out  of  patience ;  he  curfed  the  magpie,  and  wiflied 
St.  Anthony's  'lixt  might  confume  her,  and  went  on  again  with  his 
fermon  ;  but  he  had  fcarcely  pronounced  two  or  three  periods, 
when  the  match  on  a  fudden  produced  its  efte6t,  and  blew  up  the 
magpie  with  its  neft  ;  which  miracle  wonderfully  raifed  the  cha- 
rafter  of  the  friar,  and  proved  afterwards,  very  beneficial  to  him 
and  to  his  convent." 

[De  Lome's  Hiil.  of  the  Flagellants.] 

Query,  Was  not  this  fulfilling  the  prophecy  of  making  fire  come 
down  from  heaven  in  the  figiit  ot  men  ! 

The  following  miracle,  viz.  the  liquefatlion  of  the  blood  of  St. 
Januarius,  is  annually  wrought,  and  is  related  by  a  refpeftable 
eye-witnefs.  "  The  grand  procelfion  on  this  occafion  was  com- 
pcfed  of  a  numerous  body  of  clergy  and  an  immenfe  number  of 
people  of  ail  ranks,  hradcd  by  the  Archbilhop  of  Naples  himfclf, 

who 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        489 

bid  to  marry  and  to  abftain  from  meats;  [i  Tim.  iv. 
2-]  *  Forbidding  to   marry,    and   commanding   to    abflain 

3  R  '  from 

who  carried  the  phial  containing  the  blood  of  the  faint.  A  mag- 
nificent robe  of  velvet  richly  embroidered  was  thrown  over  the 
(boulders  of  the  buft  ;  a  mitre  refulgent  with  jewels  was  placed 
on  its  head.  The  archbifhop  with  a  folemn  pace  and  a  look  full 
of  awe  and  veneration,  approached,  holding  forth  the  facred  phial 
which  contained  the  precious  lump  of  blood ;  he  addreffed  the 
faint  in  the  humbled  manner,  fervently  praying  that  he  would 
gracioufly  condefcend  to  manifeft  his  regard  to  his  faithful  vota- 
ries, the  people  of  Naples,  by  the  ufual  token  of  ordering  that 
lump  of  his  facred  blood  to  affume  its  natural  and  original  furni  ; 
in  thefe  prayers  he  was  joined  by  the  multitude  around,  particu- 
larly by  the  women.  My  curiofity  prompted  me  to  mingle  with 
the  multitude;  I  got  by  degrees  very  near  the  buft.  Twenty  mi- 
nutes had  already  elapfed,  fmce  the  archbifhop  had  been  praying 
with  all  pollible  earneftnefs,  and  turning  the  phial  around  and 
around  without  any  effeft.  An  old  monk  ftood  near  the  archbi- 
fhop, and  was  at  the  utmoft  pains  to  inftruft  him  how  to  handle, 
chafe,  and  rub  the  phial ;  he  frequently  took  it  into  his  own 
hands,  but  his  manoeuvres  were  as  ineffedlual  as  thofe  of  the  arch- 
bifhop. By  this  time  the  people  had  become  exceeding  noify  ;  the 
women  were  quite  hoarfe  with  praying  ;  the  monk  continued  his 
operations  with  increafed  zeal,  and  the  archbifhop  was  all  over  in 

a  profufe  fwcat  with  vexation An  acquaintance  whifpered 

it  might  be  prudent  to  retire I  direftly  took  his  hint,  and 

joined  the  company  I  had  left.     An  univerfal  gloom  overfpread  all 

their  countenances One  very  beautiful  young  lady  cried  and 

fobbed  as  if  her  heart  had  been  ready  to  break.  The  paflions  of 
fome  of  the  rabble  without  doors  took  a  different  turn  ;  inltcad 
of  forrow  they  were  filled  with  rage  and  indignation  at  the  faint's 
obduracy,  ....  and  fome  went  fo  far  as  to  call  him  an  o!J,  un- 
grateful, yelloiv-faced  rajcal.  ....  It  was  now  almoft  dark,  .... 
and  when  leaft  expefted,  the  fignal  was  giv<^'i,  that  the  miracle 

was  performed The  populace  filled  the  air  with  repeated 

fhouts  of  joy ;  a  band  of  mufic  began  to  play  ;  Te  Deum  was 
fung ;  couriers  were  difpatched  to  the  royal  family,  then  at  Por- 
tici,  with  the  glad  tidings  ;  the  young  lady  dried  up  her  tears  ; 
the  countenances  of  our  company  brightened  in  an  inftant,  and 
they  fat  down  to  cards  without  farther  dread  of  eruptions,  earth- 
quakes, or  peftilence."  [Dr.  Moore's  View  of  Society  and  Man- 
ners in  Italy,  Lett.  64.] 

Thefe  miracles  need  no  comment ;  but  fome  Proteftants  add  a 
third  clafs  of  popifh  miracles,  wrought,  as  they  fuppole,  by  the 
agency  of  the  devil ;  but  thefe  we  oniit,  knowing  of  none  for 
which  the  cunning  of  the  priefts  was  not  quite  fulficicnt. 

[N.  U.] 


490        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  from  meats,  which  God  hath  created  to  be  received  with 
'  thankfgiving.'— (i2.)  That  he  fliould  be  very  rich,  and 
arrive  at  a  great  degree  of  earthly  fplendour  and  glory  : 
[Rev.  xvii.  4.]  '  And  the  woman  was  arrayed  in  purple, 
*  and  fcarlet  colour,  and  decked  with  gold  and  precious 
'  ftones,  and  pearls,  having  a  golden  cup  in  her  hand.' 
[See  alfo  chap,  xviii.  7,  12,  13,  16.]  (t)  It  was  fore- 
told, 

(t)  Riches  rt«c^SpLENDOUR  of  the  churc/j  of  Kome.^  Thefe 
are  principally  obvious  in  their  veilments,  images,  and  magnificent 
ceremonies.     We  Hiall  give  a  fliort  fpecimen  of  each. 

(i.)  For  veftments,  we  fhall  mention  only  thofe  of  Pope  Paul 
II.  who  "  in  his  pontifical  -veftments  outwent  all  his  predeceffors, 
efpecially  in  his  regno,  or  mitre,  upon  which  he  had  laid  out  a  great 
deal  of  money  in  purchafing  at  vaft  rates,  diamonds,  fapphires, 
emeralds,  chryfollths,  jafpers,  unions,  and  all  manner  of  precious 
ftones,  wherewith,  adorned  like  another  Aaron,  he  would  appear 
abroad  fomewhat  more  auguft  than  a  man He  made  a  de- 
cree that  »one  but  cardinals  ftiould  wear  red  caps ;  to  whom  he 
had  in  the  firft  year  of  his  popedom  given  cloth  of  that  colour  to 
make  horfe  cloths  or  mule  cloths  of,  when  they  rode."  \_Plat'md's 
Lives  of  the  Popes,  tranfiated  by  Rycant,  p.  414.] 

N.  B.   Th.^  fcarlet  coloured  beaft  ! 

(2.)  For  images,  and  other  ornaments,  the  popifti  treafure  is 
immenfe.  In  the  catalogue  of  the  treafury  of  St.  Denis,  the  tute- 
lar faint  of  France,  are  the  following,  among  innumerable  other 
articles  : 

"  A  great,  very  beautiful,  and  precious  crofs  of  mafty  gold, 
all  covered  before  with  rubies,  fapphires,  emeraldsj  and  oriental 
peail.  There  Is  ftiown,  under  the  rich  little  crofs  which  is  in  the 
midft  of  it,  the  length  of  a  foot  and  a  half  of  the  wood  of  the 
true  crofs. — A  little  crucifix  enchafed  in  gold,  very  delicately 
made  of  the  wood  of  the  true  crofs  by  Pope  Clement  the  Third's 
own  hands. — There  is  fliown  under  the  cryftal  a  httle  phial,  in 
which  there  is  of  the  blood  and  water  which  ran  from  the  fide 
of  our  Saviour,  when  it'was  pierced  with  a  lance  ;  there  is  more- 
over fome  of  the  milk,  and  of  the  gown  of  our  Lady;  a  finger 
of  the  apoftle  St.  Thomas,  another  finger  of  St.  Medard,  and  the 
myrrh  which  the  kings  offered  to  our  Saviour  ;  and  twenty-eight 
other  different  forts  ofreliques. — One  of  the  nails  wherewith  our 
Saviour  was  faftened  to  the  crofs  ;  it  is  enchafed  in  a  great  filver 
tabernacle  gilt  and  garniftied  with  precious  ftones,  made  by  the 
monks. — An  image  of  tlie  holy  Virgin"  of  filver  gilt,  which  holds 
with  one  hand  a  Httle  reliquary,  in  which  is  feen  a  piece  of  the 
fwaddling  cloaths  wherewith  flie  wrapt  our  Saviour  in  the  manger 
of  Bethlehem.— » A  great  image  of  our  Lady,  of  filver  gilt,  holding 

ia 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        491 

told,  that  he  fliould  forbid  any  to  buy  or  fell,  but  thofe 
that  had  his  mark.  [Rev.  xiii.   17.]     '  And  that  no  man 

'  might 

in  the  right  hand  a  fleiir  de  lis  of  gold,  in  which  there  are  of  her 
hairs  and  cloaths. — Another  great  image  of  St.  John  the  Evangc- 
lift,  of  fdver  gilt,  holding  with  one  hand  a  cryllal  tube  fet  in 
gold,  in  which  is  feen  a  tooth  of  the  faid  apoIUe. — A  great  crofs, 
all  of  gold  and  precious  ftoncs,  called  the  crofs  of  St.  Lauience, 
becaufe  in  it  there  is  a  bar  of  the  iron  grate  on  which  this  holy 
martyr  was  roafted. — A  great  image  of  St.  Nicolas,  of  filvcr  gilt, 
whofe  mitre  is  enriched  with  precious  ftones,  and  at  the  foot  of  it 
there  are  reliques  of  the  faint. — A  golden  head  of  the  great  St. 
Denis  the  Areopagite,  apoftle  of  France,  and  patron  of  the  place, 
whofe  mitre,  alfo  of  gold,  is  all  covered  with  precious  ftones  and 
oriental  pearls ;  the  whole  borne  up  by  two  great  angels  of  filver 
gilt. — The  chalice  and  the  little  veffels  for  holding  wine  and  wa- 
ter, which  the  fame  St.  Denis  made  ufe  of  at  the  facrifice  of  the 
mafs  about  1550  years  fince  ;  the  whole  of  rock  cryftal  enchafed 
in  fdver,  and  the  chalice  enriched  with  precious  ftones. — A  great 
crofs  of  maffy  gold,  made  by  St.  Effay  ;  it  is  enriched  with  a  num- 
ber of  oriental  pearls,  and  other  very  precious  ftones,  and  among 
others  with  a  very  great  and  very  fine  oriental  amethlft. — A  beau- 
tiful, great,  very  ancient,  and  curious  veffel  of  rich  cryftal,  which 
was  ufed  in  the  temple  of  Solomon. — A  great  cup  of  gold  and  pre- 
cious ftones,  which  belonged  to  the  fame  Solomon. — A  little  idol 
of  Apollo,  engraved  on  an  amethlft,  fet  in  gold,  enriched  with  pre- 
cious ftones. — With  innumerable  other  precious  images,  curiofities 
and  reliques.  Add  to  thefe  the  riches  of  the  miraculous  houfe  of 
Loretto,  where  Mr.  Addison,  who  faw  them,  afliires  us,  "  Silver 
can  fcarce  find  a  place,  and  gold  itfelf  looks  but  poorly  amongft 
fuch  a  number  of  precious  ftones."      [^Addifon^s  Travels,  p.  93.] 

For  the  pomp  of  the  RomlOi  fervices,  take  the  following  ac- 
count from  the  late  celebrated  Mr.  Whitefi  eld,  of  what  he  calls 
"  the  crucifixion^  reprefented  partly  by  dumb  ftiow  and  partly  by 
living  perions,"  in  the  church  belonging  to  the  convent  of  St.  De 
Beato  :  "  We  had  not,'"'  fays  Mr.  W.  "  waited  long  before  the  cur- 
tain was  drawn  up ;  immediately,  upon  a  high  fcaffold  hung  in  the 
front  with  black  bays,  and  behind  with  filk  purple  damafli  laced 
with  gold,  was  exhibited  to  our  view  an  image  of  the  Lord  Jefus  at 
full  length,  crowned  with  thorns  and  nailed  on  a  crofs,  between  two 
figures  of  like  dlmenfions,  reprefenting  the  two  thieves.  At  a  httle 
diftance,  on  the  right  hand,  was  placed  an  Image  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  in  plain  long  ruffles,  and  a  kind  of  widow  weeds.  Her  veil 
was  purple  filk,  and  flic  had  a  wire  gloiy  round  her  head.  At  the 
foot  of  the  crofs  lay,  in  a  moiuMiful  penfive  pofture,  a  living  man, 
drefled  in  woman's  cloaths,  who  perfonated  Mary  Magdalen  ;  and 
not  far  off"  ftood  a  young  man,  in  imitation  of  the  beloved  difciple. 
He  was  drefled  in  a  loofe  green  filk  vefture  and  bob-wig.  His  eyes 
3  R  2  were 


492        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  might  buy  or  fell,  fave   he   that  had  the    mark,   or  the 

*  name 

■were  fixed  on  the  crofs,  and  his  two  hands  a  little  extended.  On 
each  fide,  near  the  front  of  the  ftage,fi;ood  two  ccntinels  in  buff,  with 
formidable  caps,  and  long  beards ;  and  direftly  in  the  front  flood 
another  yet  more  formidable,  with  a  large  target  in  his  hand.  We 
mayfuppofe  him  to  be  the  Roman  centurion.  To  complete  the 
fcene,  from  behind  the  purple  hangings  came  out  about  twenty  lit- 
tle purple-vefted  winged  boys,  two  by  two,  each  bearing  a  lighted 
■wax  taper  in  his  hand,  and  a  crimfon  and  gold  cap  on  his  head. 

At  their  entrance  upon  the  ilage  they  gently  bowed  their 

heads  to  the  fpeftators,  then  kneeled  and  made  obeifance,  firft 
to  the  image  on  the  crofs,  and  then  to  that  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
When  rifen,  they  bowed  to  each  other,  and  then  took  their  refpec- 
tlve  places  over  againft  one  another,  on  fteps  afligned  for  them  on 
the  front  of  the  ftage.  Oppofite  to  this,  at  a  few  yards  diftance, 
flood  a  black  friar,  in  a  pulpit  hung  in  mourning.  For  a  while 
he  paufed,  and  then,  breaking  filence,  gradually  lifted  up  his  voice 
till  it  was  extended  to  a  pretty  high  pitch,  though  I  think  fcarce 
high  enough  for  fo  large  an  auditory.  '  After  he  had  proceeded  in 
his  difcourfe  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  a  confufed  noife  was  heard 
near  the  front  great  door  ;  and  upon  turning  my  head,  I  faw  four 
long  bearded  men  ;  two  of  which  carried  a  ladder  on  their  fhoul- 
ders,  and  after  them  followed  two  more  with  large  gilt  diflies  in 
their  hands,  full  of  linen,  fpices,  &c.  Thefe,  as  I  imagined,  were 
the  reprefentatives  of  Nicodemus  and  Jofeph  of  Arimathea.  On 
3  fignal  given  from  the  pulpit,  they  advanced  towards  the  fteps  of 
the  fcaflfold.  But  upon  their  firft  attempting  to  mount  it,  at  the 
watchful  centurion's  nod,  the  obfervant  foldicrs  made  a  pafs  at 
them,  and  prefented  the  points  of  tb.eir  javelins  directly  to  their 
breads.  They  are  repulfed.  Upon  this  a  letter  from  Pilate  is 
produced  ;  the  centurion  reads  it,  fiiakes  his  head,  and,  with 
looks  that  befpoke  a  forced  compliance,  beckons  to  the  centinels 
to  withdraw  their  arms.  Leave  being  thus  obtained,  they  afcend  ; 
and  having  paid  their  homage,  by  kneeling  firft  to  the  image  on 
the  crofs,  and  then  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  they  retire  to  the  back 
of  the  ftage.  Still  the  preacher  continued  declaiming,  or  rather, 
aswasfaid,  explaining  the  mournful  fcene.  .  Magdalen  perfifts  in 
wringing  her  hands  and  varioufiy  exprelfing  her  pcrfonnted  for- 
row ;  whilft  John  (feemingly  regardlefs  of  all  befides)  ftood  gaz- 
ing on  the  crucified  figure.  By  this  time  it  was  near  three  o'clock, 
and  therefore  proper  for  the  fcene  to  begin  to  clofe.  The  lad- 
ders are  afcended,  the  fuperfcription  and  crown  of  thorns  taken 
off,  long  white  rollers  p-^t  round  the  arms  of  the  image,  and  then 
the  nails  knocked  out  which  faftened-the  hands  and  feet.  Kere 
Mary  Magdalen  looks  moft  languifning,  and  John,  if  poflible, 
ftands  more  thnnderftruck  than  before.  The  orator  lifts  up  his 
voice,  and  alraoft  all  the   hearers  expreffcd  concern  by  weeping, 

beating 


TO   THE   FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.       493 

'  name  of  the  beaft,  or  the  number  of  his  name,  (u)  — 
(13.)  That  he  fnouid  fell  the  fouls  of  men,  [Rev.  xviil. 
13.]  in  enumeratino  the  articles  of  his  merchandile,  the 
fouls  of  men  are  mentioned  as  one.— -(14.)  It  was  fore- 
told, 

beating  their  breafts,  and  fmiting  their  cheeks.  At  length  the 
body  is  gently  let  down  ;  Magdalen  eyes  it,  and  gradually  riling 
receives  the  feet  into  her  wide-fpread  handkerchief ;  whilll  John, 
(who  hitherto  ftood  motionlefs  like  a  ftatiie)  as  the  body  came 
nearer  the  ground,  with  an  eagernefs  that  befpoke  the  intenfe  af- 
feftion  of  a  fympathizing  friend,  runs  towards  the  crofs,  feizcs 
the  upper  part  of  it  into  his  clafping  arms,  and  with  his  difguifed 
fellow  mourner  helps  to  bear  it  away.  Great  preparations  were 
made  for  its  interment.  It  was  wrapped  in  linen  and  fpices,  &c. 
and  being  laid  upon  a  bier  richly  hung,  was  afterwards  carried 
round  the  church  yard  in  grand  proceffion.  The  image  of  the 
Virgin  Mary  was  chief  mourner,  and  John  and  Magdalen,  with  a 
whole  troop  of  friars  with  wax  tapers  in  their  hands,  followed 
after.  Determined  to  fee  the  whole,  I  waited  its  return,  and  in 
about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  corpfc  was  brought  in,  and  depo- 
fited  in  an  open  fepulchre  prepared  for  the  purpofe  ;  but  not 
before  a  prieft,  accompanied  by  feveral  of  the  fame  order  in 
fplended  veftments,  had  perfumed  it  with  incenfe,  fung  to,  and 
kneeled  before  it.  John  and  Magdalen  attended  the  obfequies  ; 
but  the  image  of  the  Virgin  Mary  was  carried  away,  and  placed 
upon  the  front  of  the  ftage  in  order  to  be  kiffed,  adored,  and 
W'Orfhipped  by  the  people.  This  I  faw  them  do  with  the  utmofl: 
eagernefs  and  reverence.  And  thus  ended  this  Good  Friday's 
tragi-comical,  fuperllitious,  idolatrous  droll.  Surely,  thought  I, 
whilfl  attending  on  fuch  a  fcene  of  mock  devotion,  if  ever,  now 
is  the  Lord  Jefus  crucified  afrcrti  ;  and  I  could  then,  and  even  now, 
think  of  no  other  plea  for  the  poor  beguiled  devotees,  than  that 
which  fuffering  Innocence  put  up  himfelf  for  his  enemies,  when 
actually  hanging  upon  the  crofs,  viz.  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for 
they  know  not  what  they  do."  [Account  of  fome  Lent  Proccfs. 
&c.  at  Lifbon,  p.  31 — 37.] 

(u)  The  MARK  of  the  heajl.  Sec]  By  the  mark  of  the  beafl  is 
meant  a  profeflion  of  the  popifli  religion,  commonly  fignificd  by 
the  fign  of  the  crofs  in  the  forehead.  Without  this  none  might 
buy  ox  fell.  So  the  council  of  Lateran  and  fynod  of  Tours,  under 
Pope  Alexander  III.  and  the  bull  of  Pope  Martin  V.  forbid  any 
traffic  to  be  carried  on  with  heretics,  as  the  pcrfecuting  Roman 
emperors  had  done  before.  The  number  of  his  name  is  to  be 
found  in  the  Greek  word  Lateixos,  Th:  Latin;  the  letters  of 
which  as  numerals  make  jufl  666,  (as  do  tliofc  of  the  Hebrew 
RoMiiTH,  the  Roman  bcail)  and  about  that  date  the  Latin  fervicc 
was  enjoined  in  all  the  Roman  or  I^atin  churches.  [Bp.  Neiuion 
on  the  Proph.  vol.  viii.  Dif.  1^.  and  Reader  on  the  Rev.  inloc] 


494        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

told,  that  antichrift  would  not  fufFer  the  bodies  of  God's 
people  to  be   put  into  the  graves.   [Rev.  xi.  8,  9.]   '  And 

*  their  dead  bodies  (hall  lie  in  the  flreet  of  the  great  city,— 

*  and  they— fhall  not  fufter  their  dead  bodies  to  be  put  in 
'  graves.'  All  thefc  particulars  have  literally  come  to  pafs 
with  refpeft  to  the  church  of  Rome,  and  I  might  mention 
many  others. 

(4.)  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  learn  that  the 
fpirit  of  true  Chriftians  is  Txfphit  oi  fuffcring.  Seeing  God 
has  fo  ordered  it,  that  his  church  fhould  for  fo  long  a  time 
be  in  a  fufFering  flate,  we  may  conclude,  that  the  fpirit 
of  the  true  ciiurch  is  a  fufFering  fpirit,  for  doubtlefs  God 
accommodates  the  flate  and  circumftances  of  the  church 
to  the  fpirit  that  he  has  given  them.  We  have  feen  how 
many  and  great  fufferings  the  Chriftian  church  for  the 
moft  part  has  been  under  for  thefe  1700  years  ;  no  wonder 
therefore  that  Chrift  fo  much  inculcated  upon  his  hearers, 
that  it  was  necelTary,  if  any  would  be  his  difciples,  '  they 
'  muft  deny  themfelves,  and  take  up  their  crofs  and  follow 
«  him.'   [Matt.  xvi.  24.] 

And  we  may  prove  that  the  fpirit  of  the  true  church  of 
Chrill:  is  a  fufFering  one,  by  the  fpirit  the  church  has  fhown 
and  exercifed  under  her  fufferings.  She  has  a6lually,  under 
thofe  terrible  perfecutions  through  which  {h&  has  pafTed, 
rather  chofen  to  fufFer  the  moft  dreadful  torments,  to  fell 
all  for  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and  to  endure  all  that  her 
bitterefl  enemies  could  inflift,  than  to  renounce  Chrift  and 
his  religion.  Hiftory  furnifties  us  with  a  great  number  of 
remarkable  inftances  ;  fets  in  view  a  great  cloud  of  wit- 
nefFes.  This  abundantly  confirms  the  neceftity  of  being 
willing  to  part  with  all  for  Chrift,  to  renounce  our  own 
cafe,  our  worldly  profit,  and  honour,  and  all,  for  him,  and 
for  the  gofpel. 

Let  us  now  inquire,  whether  we  are  of  fuch  a  fpirit. 
How  does  it  prove  upon  trial  ?  does  it  prove  in  fact  that 
we  are  willing  to  deny  ourfelves,  and  renounce  our  world- 
ly intereft,  and  to  pafs  through  the  trials  to  which  we 
are  called  in  providence  ?  how  fmajl  are  our  trials,  com- 
pared with  thofe  of  many  of  our  fellow  Chriftians  in  for- 
mer 


TO   THE    FALL   OF  ANTICHRIST.       495 

mcr  ages !  And  I  would  on  this  occafion  apply  that  paflage 
[Jer.  xii.  5.]  'If  thou  haft  run  with  the  footmen,  and 
'  they  have  wearied  thee,  then  how  canft  thou  contend 

*  with  horfes  r'  If  you  have  not  heen  able  to  endure  the 
light  trials  to  which  you  have  been  called  in  this  age,  and 
in  this  land,  how  would  you  be  able  to  endure  the  far 
greater  trials  to  which  the  church  has  been  called  in  for- 
mer ages  ?  Every  true  Chriftian  has  the  fpirit  of  a  martyr, 
and  would  fufFer  as  a  martyr  if  he  were  called  to  it  in 
providence. 

(5.)  Hence  we  learn  what  great  reafon  we  have,  af- 
furedly  to  expe6l  the  fulfilment  of  thofe  fcriptures  which 
yet  remain  to  be  fulfilled.  The  fcriptures  have  fore- 
told many  great  things  yet  to  be  fulfilled  before  the  end 
of  the  world.  But  there  feems  to  be  great  difficulties 
in  the  way.  We  feem  at  prefent  to  be  very  far  from 
fuch  a  ftate  as  is  foretold  ;  but  we  have  abimdant  reafon 
to  expedl  that  thefe  things,  however  feemingly  difficult, 
will  yet  be  accomplifhed  in  their  fe^tfon.  We  fee  the 
faithfulnefs  of  God  to  his  promifes  hitherto.  How  true 
has  God  been  to  his  church,  and  remembered  his  mercy 
from  generation  to  generation :  we  may  fay  concerning 
what  God  has  done  hitherto  for  his  church,  as  Jofliua 
faid  to  the  children  of  Ifrael.  [Jofh.  xxiii.    14.]     '  That 

*  not  one  thing  hath  failed  of  all  that  the  Lord  our  God 

*  hath  fpoken  concerning  his  church  ;'  but  all  things  are 
hitherto  come  to  pafs  agreeable  to  the  divine  predidion. 
This  fhould  flrengthen  our  faith  in  thofe  promifes,  and 
encourage  us  to  earneft  prayer  to  God  for  the  accomplilh- 
ment  of  the  great  and  glorious  things  which  yet  remain  to 
be  fulfilled. 

It  has  already  been  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's 
redemption  was  carried  on  through  various  periods  down 
to  the  prefent  time. 

4.  I  come  now  to  (how  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's 
redemption  will  be  carried  on  from  the  prefent  time,  till 
antichrift  is  fallen,  and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth 
deftroyed.-— And  with  refpect  to  this  fpacc  of  time,  we 

have 


496         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

have  nothing  to  guide  us  but  the  prophecies  of  fcripturc. 
Hitherto  we  have  had  fcripture  hiftory  or  prophecy,  to- 
gether with  human  hiftory.  But  henceforward  we  have 
only  prophecy  to  dire6l  us.  And  here  I  would  pafs  by 
thofe  things  that  are  merely  conjedlural,  or  are  only  fur- 
mifed  by  fome  from  thofe  prophecies  which  are  doubtful 
in  their  interpretation  ;  and  fliall  infill:  only  on  thofe  things 
which  are  more  clear  and  evident. 

We  know  not  what  particular  events  are  to  come  to 
pafs  before  that  glorious  work  of  God's  Spirit  begins,  by 
which  Satan's  kingdom  is  to  be  overthrown.  By  the 
cimfent  of  moft  divines,  there  are  but  few  things,  if  any 
at  all,  that  are  foretold  to  be  accomplilhcd  before  the 
beginning  of  that  glorious  work  of  God.  Some  think  the 
flaying  of  the  witncfles,  [Rev.  xi.  7.8.]  is  not  yet  ac- 
complillied.*  So  divines  differ  with  refpedl  to  the  pour- 
ing out  of  the  feven  phials,  [Rev.  xvi.]  how  many  are 
already  poured  out,  or  how  many  remain  ;  though  a  late 
expofitor,t  whom  I  have  before  mentioned  to  you,  feems 
to  make  it  very  plain  and  evident,  that  all  are  already 
poured  out  but  two,  viz.  the  fixth  on  the  river  Euphrates, 
and  the  feventh  into  the  air.  But  1  will  not  now  ftand 
to  inquire  what  is  intended  by  the  poul"ing  out  of  the  lixth 
phial  on  the  river  Euphrates,  that  the  way  of  the  kings 
of  the  eaft  may  be  prepared  ;  but  only  would  fay,  that  it 
feems  to  be  fomething  immediately  preparing  the  way  for 
the  deftruction  of  the  Spiritual  Babylon,  as  the  drying  up 
of  the  river  Euphrates,  which  ran  through  the  midft  of 
old  Babylon,  was  what  prepared  the  way  for  the  kings  of 
the  Medes  and  Perfians,  the  kings  of  the  eaft,  to  come  in 
under  the  walls,  and  deftroy  that  city.— But  whatever  this 
be,  it  does  not  appear  that  it  is  any  thing  which  (hall  be 
accomplifhed  before  the  work  of  God's  Spirit  is  begun,  by 
which,  as  it  goes  on,  Satan's  vihble  kingdom  on  earth  fhall 
be  utterly  overthrown.  And  therefore  I  would  proceed 
directly  to  confidcr  what  the  fcripture  reveals  concerning 

this  work  of  God. 

And 

*  Neivton,  Lowman,  Glllj  Doddridge^  Reader.,  i!fc, 
f  Mr.  Lowman. 


TO   THE    FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.       497 

And  I  v/ould  promifc  two  things  in  general  concern- 
ing it. 

I.  We  have  all  reafon  to  conclude  from  the  fcriptures, 
that  juft  before  this  work  of  God  begins,  it  will  be  a  very 
dark  time  with  refpcd^  to  the  interefts  of  religion  in  the 
world.  It  has  been  fo  before  thofe  glorious  revivals  of 
teligion  that  have  been  hitherto.  It  was  fo  when  Chrift 
came  in  the  flelh,  and  alfo  before  the  Reformation  from 
Popery.  And  it  feems  to  be  foretold  in  fcripture,  that  it 
ihall  be  a  time  of  but  little  religion,  when  Chrift  Ihall 
come  to  fet  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world.  Thus  when 
Chrift  fpake  of  his  coming,  to  encourage  his  eled:,  who 
cry  to  him  day  and  night,  [Luke  xviii.  8.]  he  adds  this, 

*  Ncverthelefs,  when  the   Son  of  man  cometh,  fhall  he 

*  find  faith  on  the  earth  ?'  Which. feems  to  denote  a  great 
prcvalency  of  infidelity  juft  before  Chrift's  coming  to 
avenge  his  fufFering  church.  Though  Chrift's  coming 
at  the  laft  judgment  is  not  here  to  be  excluded,  yet  there 
feems  to  be  a  fpecial  refpecl  to  his  coming  to  deliver  his 
church  from  their  long  continued  fuffering,  perfecuted 
ftate,  which  is  accompliftied  only  at  his  coming  at  the 
deftruction  of  antlchrift.  That  time  when  the  ele6l  cry 
to  God,  [Rev.  vi.  10.]  '  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and 
'  true,    doft    thou    not  judge   and    avenge  our   blood    on 

*  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  r'  and  the  time  fpoken  of 
in  Revelation,   [chap,  xvili.  20.]  '  Rejoice  over  her,  thou 

*  heaven,  and  ye  holy  apoftles,  and  prophets,  for  God 
'  hath  avenged  you  on  her,'  will  then  be  accomplifhed. 
It  is  now  a  dark  time  with  refpedl  to  the  interefts  of  reli- 
gion, and  there  is  a  remarkable  fulfilment  of  that  predic- 
tion j  [2  Pet.  iii.  3.]  '  Knowing  this,  that  there  ftiall 
'  come  in  the  laft  days  fcoffers,  walking  after  their  own 

*  lufts.'  And  fo  Jude,  [17,  18.]  '  But  beloved,  remcm- 
'  ber  ye  the  words  v,-hich  were  fpoken  before  of  the  apof- 

*  ties  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift ;    how  that  there  Ihould 

*  be  mockers  in  the  laft  time,  who  ftiould  walk  after  their 

*  own  ungodly  lufts.'  Whether  the  times  ihall  be  any 
darker  ftill,  or  how  much  fo  before  the  beginning  of  this 
glorious  work  of  God,  we  cannot  tell. 

3  S  2.  There 


498  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

2.  There  is  no  reafon  to  think  but  that  this  great  work 
of  God  will  be  wrought,  though  very  fwiftly,  yet  gradu- 
ally. As  the  children  of  Ifrael  were  gradually  brought 
out  of  the  Eabylonifh  captivity,  firfl  one  company  and 
then  another,  and  gradually  rebuilt  their  city  and  tem- 
ple ;  and  as  the  heathen  Roman  empire  was  deftroyed 
by  a  gradual,  though  a  very  fwifc  prevalency  of  the  gof- 
pel ;  fo,  though  there  are  many  things  which  feem  as 
though  the  work  of  God  would  be  exceeding  fvvift,  and 
many  wonderful  events  fuddenly  be  brought  to  pafs,  and 
fome  great  parts  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  have  a  very 
fuddcn  fall,  yet  all  will  not  be  accomplilhed  at  once,  as 
by  fome  great  miracle,  (as  the  refurreclion  of  the  dead  at 
the  end  of  the  world  will  be  all  at  once ;)  but  this  is  a. 
work  which  will  be  accomplilhed  by  means,  by  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gofpel,  and  the  ufe  of  the  ordinary  means 
of  grace,  and  fo  will  be  gradual.  Some  ihall  be  con- 
verted, and  be  the  means  of  converting  others.  God's 
Spirit  fhall  be  poured  out  firft  to  raife  up  inftruments,  and 
thofe  inftruments  ihall  be  ufcd  and  fucceed.  And  doubt- 
lefs  one  nation  lliall  be  enlightened  and  converted  after 
another  ;  one  falfe  religion  exploded  after  another.  By 
the  rcprefentation  in  Daniel  [chap.  ii.  3,  4.]  the  ftone  cut 
out  of  the  mountain  without  hands  gradually  grows.  So 
Chrift  teaches  us,  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  a 
grain  of  muftard  feed,  [Matt.  xiii.  31,  32.]  and  like  lea- 
ven hid  in  three  meafures  of  meal,  [ver.  33.]  The  fame 
rcprefentation  we  have  in  the  vifion  of  the  waters  pf  the 
fantStuary.  [Ezek.  xlviii.]— The  fcriptures  mention  feve- 
ral  fuccelTive  events  by  which  this  glorious  work  Ihould 
be  accomplilhed.  The  angel  fpeaking  to  the  prophet 
Daniel  of  thofe  times,  mentions  two  periods,  at  the  end 
of  which  glorious  things  Ihould  be  accompliihed  ;  [Dan. 
xii.  II.]    '  And  from  the  time  that  the  daily  facrificc  Ihall 

*  be  taken  away,  and  the  abomination  that  maketh  defo- 
'  late  fet  up,  there  fliall  be  a  thoufand  two  hundred  and 
'  ninety  days.'  But  then  he  adds  [ver.  12.]  '  BlefTed  is 
'  he  that  waiteth,  and  cometh  to  die  thoufand  three  hun- 

*  dred  and   five  and  thirty  days;'    intimating  that  fome- 

thmg; 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        499 

thing  very  glorious  fliould  be  accompli flied  at  the  end  of  the 
former  period,  but  fomething  much  more  glorious  at  the  end 
of  the  latter.-— But  I  now  proceed  to  fliow, 

(3.)  That  this  great  work  fliall  be  accompliflied,  not 
by  the  authority  of  princes,  nor  by  the  wifdom  of  learned 
men,  but  by  the  Holy  Spirit  ;  [Zech.  iv.  6,  7.]  '  Not  by 
'   mif^ht,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  fpirit,    faith  the  Lord 

<  of  hofts.     Who   art  thou,    O  great   mountain?    before 

<  Zerubbabel  thou  (halt  become  a  plain,  and  he  (hall  bring 
'  forth  the  head  flonc  thereof  with  fliouting,  crying,  Grace, 
'  grace  unto  it.'  So  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  fpeaking  of  this 
great  work  of  God,  fays,  [chap,  xxxix.  29.]  'Neither 
*  will  I  hide  my  face   any  more  from  them  ;    for  I  have 

<  poured  out  my  fpirit  on  the  houfe  of  Ifrael,  faith  the 
'  Lord  God.'  We  know  not  where  this  pouring  out  of 
the  Spirit  fliall  begin,  or  whether  in  many  places  at  once, 
or  whether  what  has  already  been,  be  not  fome  forerunner 
and  beginning  of  it.  (w) 

This 

(w)  Whether  the  LATE  conversions  be  the  beguimng  of  this 
glorious  event  ?]  We  have  already  been  pretty  large  in  our  account 
of  feveral  remarkable  out-pourings  of  God's  Spirit  in  the  conver- 
fion  of  finners  in  the  prefent  century;  [See  above,  note  l,  p.  465 
— M,  468 — N,  470 — and  o,  471.]  To  which  might  be  added  a 
work  of  the  like  nature  in  Scotland,  about  the  year  i  740,  when 
great  multitudes  were  awakened  in  a  hidden  and  fingulai  manner  ; 
but  we  fhall  only  fubjoin  on  authentic  account  of  fome  very  recent 
inftances  of  the  power  of  divine  grace  in  propagating  the  gofpel 
among  the  Indians  in  America  ;  where  Dr.  IVhec'och,  in  the  year 
1754,  eftabliflied  a  fchool  at  Lebanon,  in  Connedicut,  (fince  re- 
moved to  Hanover,  in  New  Hampfliire,  where  it  is  (lill  continued 
by  his  fon)  for  the  education  of  Indian  and  EngliOi  youths,  as 
mifiionaries,  interpreters,  and  fchool-mafters  to  the  different  Indian 
tribes.  The  utility  of  thisinflitution  may  in  fome  meafure  be  ef- 
timated  from  the  following  extraft  from  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Kirkland,  an  eminent  miflionary  therein  educated,  dated  Boflon, 
March  10,   17^4. 

"  The  Oneidas  expeft  in  tlie  courfe  of  two  years  to  have  more 
than  a  thoufand  Indians  in  their  vicinity,  who  will  be  difpofed  to 
attend  to  the  word  of  God,  and  among  thofe,  fvine  hearty  lovers  of 
the  religion  of  Jcfus,  as  thcmfelves  exprefs  it.  About  eighty  of 
the  Delaware  tribe  ....  have  lately  petitioned  the  Oneidas  for  a 
fettlement  in  tlieir  neighbourhood,  where  they  might  have  the 
privilege  of  religious  inflruftion.  Their  rcqucft  was  immediately 
3  S  2  granted." 


500        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

This  pouring  out  of  the  fpirit  of  God,  when  it  is  be- 
gun, fhali  foon  bring  great  multitudes  to  forfakc  that 
vice  and  vvickednefs  which  now  fo  genera]!}""  prevails,  and 

Ihall 

granted."  In  their  addrefs  to  Mr.  K.  on  this  fubje(?l,  t^ieyhave 
the  following  wordo  :  "  We  intreat  our  father  to  make  one  trial 
more  for  chriftianizing  Indians,  at  lead  for  one,  if  not  for  two 
years,  and  if  there  be  no  encouragement  after  this,  that  we  Ihall 
be  built  up  as  a  people,  and  embrace  the  religion  of  Jefus ;  he 
may  leave  us,  and  we  ihall  expeft  nothing  but  ruin."  In  a  letter 
to  the  Scots  commiffioners  at  Bofton  for  propagating  the  Chrifiian 
faith,  the  December  preceding,  Is  the  following  paffage,  referring 
to  the  unhappy  American  v/ar  :  "  Fathers,  ....  v/e  haveb  een  dif- 
treffed  by  the  black  cloud  that  fo  long  overfpread  our  country : 
the  cloud  is  now  blown  over ;  let  us  thank  the  Great  Spirit  and 
praife  Jefus.  By  means  of  the  fcrvants  of  Jefus,  the  good  news 
of  God's  word  hath  been  publifned  to  us.  We  have  received  it. 
Some  of  us  love  it,  and  Jefus  hath  preferved  us  through  the  late 
llorrn.  Fathers,  our  fire  begins  to  burn  again  ;  our  hearts  rejoice 
to  fee  it :  we  hope  it  will  burn  brighter  than  ever,  and  that  it  will 
enlighten  the  nations  around.  Our  brothers  of  the  Stockbridgc  and 
Mohegan  tribes,  and  many  others  from  the  eaftward,  have  already 
agreed  to  come  and  fit  with  us  around  it,  who  all  hope  to  fee  alfo 
the  light  of  God's  holy  word."  [  Abftract  of  the  Proceedings  of 
the  Scots  Society  for  propagating  Chriilian  Knowledge.] 

"  vSince  the  above,  Mr.  Kirkland  was  fent  to  the  Society  in 
Scotland  for  propagating  Chriilian  Knowledge,  a  copy  of  his  jour- 
nal from  May  1786,  to  May  1787.  A  concern  about  religion  be- 
gan among  the  Oneida  Indians,  Augufl  and  September  1786,  and 
in  November  greatly  increafed,  and  continued  to  do  fo  through  the 
Vv'inter  and  fpring.  About  fevcnteen,  in  three  villages  of  that  tribe, 
appen?-  favingly  converted.  In  one  of  thefe  villages,  the  convic- 
tions have  been  remarkably  rational  and  pungent ;  and  a  fenfe  of 
the  cvd  of  fin  has  exceeded  tl'.e  fear  of  punifliment.  In  another, 
i'.'.d  views  of  their  ftate  have  been  more  mixed  with  enthufiafm. 
Outward  reformation  is  fuch,  that  in  one  village  there  hath  not 
been  an  inltance  of  an  Indian  drunk  thefe  fix  months.  On  Lord's 
days,  Mr.  Kirkland  is  often  employed,  without  anv  confidcrablc 
intermifiion,  from  morning  to  evtning,  and  can  hardly  command 
leifure  for  necelFary  refreOiment ;  and  often,  on  other  days,  fpendj 
ten  hours  In  preaching,  catechizing,  and  private  religious  conver- 
fation  with  the  many  who  come  to  him,  to  unfold  the  dillreiTes  of 
their  fouls,  and  to  aflc  inftrudtion  in  Chrillianity.  Their  hunger 
for  the  bread  of  life  permits  not  his  /ending  them  empty  av/ay. 
Frequently  they  have  enjoyed  much  of  God's  prefence  in  public 
worfnip.  It  was  remarkably  fo,  January  i,  1787,  when  tht-y 
were  diflurbcd  with  pagan  Indians  nifcovering  their  joy  for  the  new 
year,  by  firing  of  guns,  and  inviting  the  Clirlflians  to  an  idola- 

trou; 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        501 

/liall  caufe  that  vital  religion,  which  is  now  fo  dcfpifed 
and  laughed  at  in  the  world,  to  revive.  The  work  of 
converfion  {hall  break  forth,  and  go  on  in  fuch  a  manner 
as  never  has  been  liitlierto  ;  agreeable  to  that  promile. 
[Tfa.  xliv.  3—5-]  *  I  v.'ill  pour  water  upon  him  that  is 
'  thirfty  ...  my  fpirit  upon  thy  feed  ....  one  ihall  fay, 
'  I  am  tlie  Loi=d,'  &c.  God,  by  pouring  out  his  holy 
Spirit,  will  furniih  inftruments  for  carrying  on  this  work  ; 

will 

trons  dance,  for  which  there  was  not  a  fufficlent  number,  through 
their  rcfufal.  Irritated  at  Mr.  Kirkland,  to  whom  they  afcribed 
the  difappointment,  four  Indian  youths  confpired  to  murder  him 
that  night,  which  was  happily  difcovcred,  and  by  the  care  of  lome 
of  his  converts  difappointcd.  Even  the  heathen  Sachems  difap- 
proved  this,  and  at  an  Indian  council  that  week,  three  of  the 
youths  expreffed  their  penitence,  and  the  fourth  fent  his  apology. 
Thcfc  appearances  have  ftruck  fome  of  the  Tufcararo  and  Onon- 
dago  tribes.  Mr.  Kirkland  writes,  that  his  work,  though  fo  un- 
.commonly  laborious,  was  neTcr  fo  delightful.  Indeed,  fmce  tlie 
days  of  Mr.  David  Brainerd,  there  has  been  nothing  fo  promifing 
among  the  Indians.  Mr.  Kirkland  is  tranflating  the  gofpel  of 
Mark,  and  fome  felcft  Pfalms,  into  the  Oneida  language,  which 
he  hopes  to  get  printed.  His  labours  arc  much  helped  by  good 
Peter  the  catechift,  one  of  the  moft  eloquent  men  among  the  fix 
nations,  and  by  the  fchoolmader,  whofe  name  I  do  not  recollcA." 
[Sermop  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Oacrum,  Indian  Miffionary  on 
the  death  of  another  Indian,  juft  pubhlhed  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Rippon.] 

To  the  above-mentioned  inftances  may  be  applied  a  remark  of 
fome  eminent  divines  on  the  work  of  God  in  New  England,  not 
impertinent  to  the  occafion  of  introducing  this  note  : 

"  We  arc  tauglit  alfo  by  this  happy  event  how  eafy  it  will  be 
for  our  bleffed  Lord  ....  to  fpread  his  dominion,  from  fea  to  fea, 
ihrough  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  We  fee  how  eafy  it  is  for  him 
with  one  turn  of  his  hand,  with  one  word  of  his  mouth,  to  awaken 
whole  countries  of  ftupid  and  fleeping  finners,  and  kindle  divine 
life  in  their  fouls.  .  .  .  The  name  of  Chrlll  fhall  diffufe  itfelf  like 
a  rich  and  vital  perfume  to  multitudes  that  were  ready  to  fink,  and 
to  periih  under  the  painful  fenfe  of  their  own  guilt  and  danger. 
Salvation  fliall  fpread  through  all  the  tribes  and  ranks  of  mankind, 
as  the  lightning  from  heaven  in  a  few  moments  would  communi- 
cate a  living  flame  through  10,000  lamps  or  torches  placed  in  a 
proper  fituation  and  neighbourhood.  Thus  a  nation  fhall  be  born 
in  a  day  when  our  Redeemer  pleafes,  and  his  faithful  and  obedient 
fubjefts  fnall  become  as  numerous  as  the  fpires  ot  grafs  in  a  mea- 
dow newly  mown  and  refre'hcd  with  the  flowers  of  heaven." 
[Dr.  Watts  and  Dr.  CuiJ'c'^  Preface  to  tir.Ed'-Mitrd'i  Nar.  p.  vii.l 


502         HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

will  fill  them  with  knowledge  and  wifdom,  and  fervent 
zeal  for  promoting  the  kingdom  of  Chiift,  and  the  falva- 
tion  of  fouls,  and  propagating  the  gofpel  in  the  world. 
So  that  the  gofpel  fliall  begin  to  be  preached  with  abun- 
dantly greater  clearnefs  and  power  than  it  has  hitherto 
been  :  for  this  great  work  of  God  ihall  be  brought  to 
pafs  by  the  preaching  ot  the  gofpel,  as  is  reprefcnted 
[Rev.  xiv.  6—8.]  that  before  Babylbn  falls,  the  gofpel 
iliall  be  powerfully  preached  and  propagated  in  the 
world. 

This  was  typified  of  old  by  the  founding  of  the  filver 
trumpets  in  Ifrael  in  the  beginning  of  their  jubilee : 
[Lev.  XXV.  9.]  '  Then  fhalt  thou  caufe  the  trumpet  of 
'  the  jubilee  to  found  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  feventh 
'  month  ;  on  the  day  of  atonement  fliall  ye  make  the 
'  trumpet  found  throughout  all  your  land.'  The  glorious 
times  which  are  approaching,  are,  as  it  were,  the  church's 
jubilee,  which  Cljall  be  introduced  by  the  founding  of  the 
filver  trumpet  of  the  gofpel,  as  is  foretold  [Ifa.  xxvii.  13.] 
'  And  it  fhall  come  to  pafs  in  that  day,  that  ,the  great 
'  trumpet  fliall  be  blown,  and  they  ihall  come  which  were 
'  ready  to  perifli  in  the  land  of  Aflyria,  and  the  outcafts 
*  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  iball  worlhip  the  Lord  in  the 
holy  mount  at  Jerufalem.'  And  there  fliall  be  a  glorious 
cfFufion  of  the  Spirit  with  this  clear  and  powerful  preach- 
ing of  the  gofpel,  to  make  it  fuccefsful  for  reviving  tliofe 
holy  dodlrines  of  religion  which  are  now  chiefly  ridiculed 
in  the  world,  and  turning  many  from  herefy,  and  from 
popery,  and  from  other  falfe  religions  ;  and  alfo  for  turn- 
ing many  from  their  vice  and  profanenefs,  and  for  bringing 
vaft  multitudes  favingly  to  Chrill:. 

That  work  of  converfion  fliall  go  on  in  a  wonderful 
manner,  and  fpread  more  and  more.  Many  fliall  flow 
together  to  the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  and  fliall  come,  as 
it  were,  in  flocks,  one  flock  and  multitude  after  another. 
[Ifa.  Ix.  4,  5.]  '  Lift  up  thine  eyes  round  about,  and 
'  fee ;  all  they  gather  themfelves  together,  they  come  to 
'  thee  ;  thy  fons  fliall  come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters 
'  fliall   be   nurfcd   at  thy  fide.     Then  thou  flialt  fee  and 

'  flow 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        503 

flow  together.'  [ver.  8.]  '  Who  are  thefe  that  fly  as  a 
'  cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to  their  windows  ?'  And  it 
being  reprefented  in  the  forementioned  place  in  the  Revela- 
tion, [chap.  xiv.  6— -8.]  that  the  gofpel  fhall  be  preached 
to  every  tongue,  and  kindred,  and  nation,  and  people, 
before  the  fall  of  antichrilt  ;  fo  we  mry  fuppofe,  that  it 
will  foon  be  glorioufly  fuccefsful  to  bring  in  multitudes 
from  every  nation  ;  and  it  fliall  fpread  with  wonderful 
fwiftnefs,  and  vafl:  numbers  fliall  fuddenly  be  brought  in 
at  once,  and  as  it  is  faid,  '  a  nation  Ihall  be  born  in  a  day.' 
[Ifa.  Ixvi.  7—9-] 

(4.)  This  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  will  not 
afi^ecl  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom,  till  there 
has  firfl:  been  a  violent  and  mighty  oppojition  made.  In 
this  the  fcripture  is  plain,  that  when  Chrift  is  thus  glori- 
oufly coming  forth,  and  the  deftrudlion  of  antichrift  is 
ready  at  hand,  and  Satan's  kingdom  begins  to  totter,  the 
powers  of  the  kingdom  of  darknefs  will  rife  up,  and 
mightily  exert  themfelves  to  prevent  their  kingdom  beini; 
overthrown.  Thus  after  the  pouring  out  the  fixth  phial, 
which  was  to  dry  up  the  river  Euphrates,  to  prepare  the 
way  for  the  defl:ru6tion  of  fpiritual  Babylon,  it  is  repre- 
fented [Rev.  xvi.]  as  though  the  powers  of  hell  will  be 
mightily  alarmed,  and  fhould  flir  up  themfelves  to  oppofe 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  before  the  feventh  and  laft  phial 
fliall  be  poured  out,  which  fliall  give  them  a,  final  and 
complete  overthrow.  After  an  account  of  the  pouring  out 
of  the  fixth  phial,  [ver.  12.]  the  beloved  difciple  informs 
us  in  the  following   verfes,  that   '  three  unclean  fpirits, 

*  like  frogs,  fhall  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of  the  earth,  to 

*  gather  them  together  to  the  battle  of  the  great  day  of  God 

*  Almighty.'  This  feems  to  be  the  laft  and  greateft  effbit 
of  Satan  to  fave  his  kingdom  from  being  overthrown  ; 
though  perhaps  he  may  make  as  great  an  efl^brt  towards  the 
end  of  the  world  to  regain  it. 

When  the  Spirit  begins  to  be  glorioufly  poured  fortli, 
and  the  devil  fees  fuch  multitudes  flocking  to  Chrift  in 
one  nation  and  another,  and  the  foundations  of  his  king- 
dom  daily    undermining,    its   pillars  breaking,    and   t]\e 

whole 


504        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

whole  ready  to  fall,  it  will  greatly  alarm  him.  Satan  ha? 
ever  had  a  dread  of  his  kingdom  being  overthrown,  and 
he  has  long  been  endeavouring  to  fortify  his  kingdom, 
and  to  prevent  its  ruin.  To  this  end  he  fet  up  the  two 
mighty  kingdoms  of  Antichrift  and  ?.lahomet,  and  has 
nurfed  all  the  herefies  and  fuperftitions  in  the  world : 
but  when  he  fees  all  begin  to  fail,  it  will  roufe  him  ex- 
ceedingly. If  Satan  dreaded  being  caft  out  of  the  Roman 
empire,  how  much  more  does  he  dread  being  caft  out  of 
the  whole  world. 

It  feems  as  though  in  this  laft  great  oppofition  which 
fhall  be  made  againft  the  church  to  defend  the  kingdom 
of  Satan,  that  all  the  forces  of  antichrilt,  mahometanifm 
and  heathenifm,  will  be  united  ;  all  the  power  of  Satan's 
vifible  kingdom  through  the  whole  world :  and  therefore 
it  is   faid  [Rev.  xvi.  14.]  that    '  fpirits   of  devils  fhall  go 

*  forth  unto  the  kings  of  the  earth,    and  of   the  whole 

*  world,  to  gather  them  together  to  the  battle  of  the  great 

*  day  of  God  Almighty.'  And  thefe  fpirits  are  faid  to 
come  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  dragon,  and  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  beaft,  and  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  falfc 
prophet :  z.  e.  there  lliall  be  the  fpirit  of  popery,  and  the 
fpirit  of  mahometanifm,  and  the  fpirit  of  heathenifm,  all 
united.  By  the  beaft  is  meant  antichrift  ;  by  the  dragon, 
in  this  book,  is  commonly  meant  the  devil,  as  he  reigns 
over  his  heathen  kingdom ;  by  the  falie  prophet,  in  this 
book,  is  fometimes  meant  the  pope  and  his  clergy  :  but  here 
an  eye  feems  to  be  had  to  Mahomet,  whom  his  followers 
call  the  great  prophet  of  God.  This  will  be,  as  it  were, 
the  dying  ftruggle  of  the  old  ferpent ;  a  battle  wherein  he 
will  fight  as  one  that  is  defperate. 

We  know  not  particularly  in  what  manner  this  oppo- 
fition will  be  made.  It  is  reprefentcd.  as  a  battle  ;  it  is 
called  '  the  bartle  of  the  great  day  of  God  Almighty.' 
There  will  be  fome  way  or  other  a  mighty  ftruggle  be- 
tween Satan's  kingdom  and  the  church,  and  probably  in 
all  manner  of  ways  ;  and  doubtlefs  great  oppofition  will  be 
made  by  external  force;  wherein  the  princes  of  the  world 
who  are  on  the  devil's  fide  ftiall'join  hand  in  hand ;  for 

it 


TO    THE    FALL   OF   ANTICHRIST.       505 

k  is  faid,  '  The  kings  of  the  earth  are  gathered  together 

*  to  battle.'  [Rev.  xix.  19.]  And  probably  alfo  there  will 
be  great  oppofition  of  fubtle  difputers  and  carnal  reafoning  ; 
great  perfecution  in  many  places,  and  virulent  reproaches. 
The  devil  now  doubtlefs  will  ply  his  fkill,  as  well  as 
Ilrength,  to  the  utmofl:.  The  allies  and  fubje6ls  who  be- 
long to  his  kingdom,  will  every  where  be  ftirred  up,  and 
engaged  to  make  an  united  and  violent  oppofition  againfl 
this  holy  religion,  which  they  fee  prevailing  lb  mightily 
in  the  world.— But, 

(5.)  Chrift  and  his  church  fliall  in  this  battle  obtain  a 
complete  vl£lory  over  their  enemies.  They  fliall  be  to- 
tally routed  and  overthrown  in  this  their  laft  effort. —- 
When  the  powers  of  hell  and  earth  arc  thus  gathered  to- 
gether againft  Chrift,  and  his  armies  fhall  come  forih 
againft  them  by  his  word  and  fpirit  to  fight  with  them, 
in  how  auguft  and  glorious  a  manner  is  this  defcribed. 
[Rev.  xix.   II  — 16.]   '   And   I    faw   heaven   opened,  and 

*  behold  a  white  horfe,  and  he  that  fat  upon  him  is  called 

*  faithful  and  true,'  &c.  And  to  reprefent  to  us  how  great 
the  vidlory  fhould  be  which  they  fhould  obtain,  and  how 
mighty  the  overthrow  of  their  enemies,  it  is  faid,  [ver.  17, 
18.]  that  '  all  the  fowls  of  heaven  are  called  together,  to 

*  eat  the  great  lupper  given  them,  of  the  flefh  of  kings, 
'  and  captains,  and  mighty  men.'  &c.  and  in  the  follow- 
ing verfes  we  have  an  account  of  the  vi6lory  and  over- 
throw. 

In  this  vi6lory,  the  feventh  phial  fhall  be  poured  out. 
It  is  faid,  [Rev.  xvi.  16.]  of  tlie  great  army  that  fhould 
be  gathered  together  againll:  Chrill::  '  And  he  gathered 
'  them  together  into  a  place  called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue, 
'  Armageddon  \  and  then  it  is  faid,  '  And  the  feventh  an- 
'  g^^  poured  out  his  phial  into  the  air  ;  and  there  came  a 

*  great  voice  out  of  the  temple  of  heaven,  from  the 
'  throne,  faying,  It  is  done.''  Now  the  bufmefs  is  done 
for  Satan  and  his  adherents.  When  this  viiflory  is  ob- 
tained, all  is  in  efFecl  done.  Satan's  laft  and  greatefl:  op- 
pofition is  conquered  ;  all  his  meafures  are  defeated  ;  the 
pillars  of  his    kingdom   broken,   and  will   fall  of  courfe. 

-i  T  The 


5o6        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

The  devil  is  utterly  baffled  and  confounded,  and  knows 
not  what  elfc  to  do.  He  now  fees  his  antichriftian,  Ma- 
hometan, and  henthenifh  kingdoms  through  the  world,  all 
tumbling  about  his  cars.  He  and  his  moft  powerful  inftru- 
ments  are  taken  captive.  Now  that  is  in  etFe6l  done  which 
the  church  of  God  had  been  fo  long  waiting  and  hoping 
for,  and  fo  earneftly  crying  to   God  for,   faying,   '  How 

•  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true  ?'    Now  the  time  is  come. 

The  angel  that  fet  his  right  foot  on  the  fea,  and  his  left 
foot  on  the  earth,  [Rev.  x.  5— -7.]  lift  up  his  hand  to  hea- 
ven, and  fvvare  by  him  that  liveth  for  ever  and  ever,  who 
created  heaven,  and  all  things  that  tlierern  are,  and  the 
earth,  and  the  things  that  therein  are,  and  the  fea,  and  the 
things  which  are  therein,  that  when  the  feventh  angel 
fliould  come  to  found,  the  time  fhould  be  no  longer.  And 
now  the  time  is  come;  now  the  feventh  trumpet  ^founds, 
and  the  feventh  phial  is  poured  out,  both  together;  inti- 
mating, that  now  all  is  finiihed  as  to  the  overthrow  of 
Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth.  This  victory  fhall  be 
by  far  the  greateft  that  ever  was  obtained  over  Satan  and 
his  adherents.  By  this  blow,  with  which  the  ftone  cut 
out  of  the  mountain  without  hands  fliall  flrike  the  image  of 
gold,  and  filver,  and  brafs,  and  iron,  and  clay,  it  fhall  all 
be  broken  to  pieces.  This  will  be  a  finilhing  blow  to  the 
image,  fo  that  it  fhall  become  as  the  chaftof  the  fummer 
threlhing  floor.      [See  Dan.  ii.  35.] 

In  this  victory  will  be  a  mofl  glorious  difplay  of  divine 
power.  Chrift  fhall  therein  appear  in  the  charafter  of 
King  ofkingSy  and  Lord  of  lords,  [Rev.  xix.  16.]  and  fliall 
dafli  his  enemies,  even  the  ftrongeft  and  proudeft  of  them, 
in  pieces ;  as  a  potter's  velTel  fhall  they  be  broken  to  flii- 
vers.  Then  fliall  ftrength  be  fliown  out  of  weakncfs,  and 
Chrilt  (hall  caufe  his  church  as  it  were  to  threfh  the  moun- 
tains. [Ifa.  xli.  15.]  '  Behold,  I  will  make  thee  a  new 
'  fliarp  threfliing  inftrument  having  teeth  ;  thou  fhalt  threih 

*  the  mountains,  and  beat  them  fmall,  and  Ihalt  make  the 
'  hills  as  chafF.'  [See  alfo  Ifa.  xliii.13 — ^5*] 

(6.)  Confcquent  on  this  vidory,  Satan's  vifible  kingdom 
on  earth  fliall  be  deftroyed.     When  Satan  is  conquered  in 

this 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        507 

this  laft  battle,  the  church  of  Chrift  will  have  eafy  work 
of  it ;  as  when  Jolhua  and  the  children  of  Ifrael  had  ob- 
tained,that  great  vi6lory  over  the  five  kings  ot  the  Amo- 
rites,  [Jofh.  x.  5—14-]  ^'^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^'^  flood  flill,  and  God 
fent  great  hailftones  upon  their  enemies,  they  after  that 
went  from  one  city  to  another,  and  burnt  them  with  fire  : 
they  had  eafy  work  of  fubduing  the  cities  and  country  to 
which  they  belonged.  So  it  was  alfa  after  that  other  great 
batde  that  Jofliua  had  with  that  great  multitude  at  the  wa- 
ters of  Merom.  [Jolh.  xi.  5— -9-]  So  after  this  glorious 
vi6lory  of  Chrift  and  his  church  over  their  enemies,  the 
chief  powers  of  Satan's  kingdom,  they  fhall  deftroy  that 
kingdom  in  all  thofe  cities  and  countries  to  which  they 
belong.  Then  the  word  of  God  ihall  have  a  fvvift  progrefs 
through  the  earth ;  as  is  faid,  that  on  the  pouring  out  of 
the  feventh  phial,  '  the  cities  of  the  nations  fell,  and  every 
'  ifland  fled  away,  and  the  mountains  were  not  found.' 
[Rev.  xvi.  19,  20-]  When  once  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the 
mountain  without  hands  had  broken  the  image  in  pieces, 
it  was  eafy  to  abolifh  all  remains  of  it.  The  very  wind 
will  carry  it  av^'ay  as  the  chaff  of  the  fummer  threfhing- 
floor.  Becaufe  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth  fhall  now 
be  deilroyed,  therefore  it  is  faid,  that  the  feventh  phial,  by 
which  this  fhall  be  done,  ihall  be  poured  out  into  the  air ; 
which  is  reprefented  in  fcripture  as  the  fpccial  feat  of  his 
kingdom  ;  for  he  is  called  '  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the 
'  air,'  [Eph.  ii.  2.]  Now  is  come  the  time  for  punifhing 
Leviathan,  that  piercing  ferpent,  of  which  we  read,  [Ifa. 
xxvii.  I.]  'In  that  day  the  Lord  with  his  fore  and  great 
*  and  ftrong  fword,  iliall  punilh  Leviathan  the  piercing 
'  ferpent,  even  Leviathan,  that  crooked  ferpent,  and  he 
'   ihall  flay  the  dragon  that  is  in  the  fea.' 

Concerning  this  overthrow  of  Satan's  vihble  kingdom 
on  earth,  I  would,  [i.]  Show  wherein  this  overthrow  of 
Satan's  vihble  kingdom  will  chiefly  confift  ;  [2.]  The 
extent  and  univerfality  of  this  overthrow. 

[i.]  I  would  ihow  wherein  this  overthrow  of  Satan's 
kingdom  will  chiefly  confift.  I  ihall  mention  the  princi- 
pal things  in  which  it  will  confift,  witliout  pretending  to 
3  T  2  deter- 


5o8        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

determine  in  what  order  they  fhall  come  to  pafs,  or  which 
fhali  be  accomplifhed  firft,  or  whether  they  fhall  be  ac- 
conipli/hed  together. 

Hcrejies,  infidelity^  ^lxv^  fuperjiition,  among  thofe  who  have 
been  brought  tip  under  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  will  then 
be  aboliflied.  Then  there  will  be  an  end  to  Socinianifm, 
Arianifm,  Quakerifm,  and  Arminianifm  ;  and  Deifm, 
which  is  now  fo  bold  and  confident  in  infidelity,  fhall 
then  be  crufhed  to  nothing  ;  and  all  fhall  agree  in  the 
fame  great  and  important  dodlrlnes  of  the  gofpel ;  agree- 
able to  that  promife,  [Zech.  xiv.  9.]  '  And  the  Lord 
fliall  be  king  over  all  the  earth  :  in  that  day   Ihall  there 

*  be  one  Lord,  and  his  name  one.'  Then  Ihall  all  fu- 
perflition  be  abolilhed,  and  all  fliall  agree  in  worfliipping 
God  in  his  own  ways.   [Jer.    xxxii.   39.]    '  And   I  will 

*  give  them  one  heart,  and  one  way,  that  they  may  fear 

*  me  for  ever,  for  the  good  of  them,  and  of  their  chil- 

*  dren  after  them.' 

The  kingdom  of  antichrlfi  fhall  be  utterly  overthrown. 
His  kingdom  and  dominion  has  been  much  brought  down 
already  by  the  phial  poured  out  on  his  throne  in  tlie  Re- 
formation ;  but  then  it  fhall  be  utterly  deftroyed.  Then 
jliall  be  proclaimed,  '  Babylon  is  fallen,  is  fallen.'  When 
the  feventh  angel  founds,  '  the  time,  times  and  half,  fhall 
<  be  out,  and  the  time  fliall  be  no  longer.'  .Then  fliall 
be  accompliihed  concerning  antichrifl:  the  things  which 
are  written,  [Rev.  xviii.]  concerning  the  fpiritual  Baby- 
lon, that  has  for  fo  many  ages  been  the  great  enemy  of 
the  Chriflian  church,  firft  under  heathenifm,  then  under 
popery  :  that  proud  city  which  lifted  herfelf  up  to  heaven, 
and  above  God  himfelf  in  her  pride  and  haughtinefs  ; 
that  cruel,  bloody  city,  ihall  come  down  to  the  ground. 
Then  fhall  that  be  fulfilled,  [Tfa.  xxvi.  5.]  <  For  he 
'  bringcth  down  them  that  dwell  on  high,  the  lofty  city 

*  he  layeth  it  low,  he  layeth  it  low,  even  to  the  ground, 

*  he  bringeth  it  even  to  the  duft,'     She   fliall  be  thrown 

*  down  with   violence,  like  a  great  millftone  caft  into  the 

*  fea,  and  fliall  be  found  no  more  a-t  all,  and   fliall  become 
'  an  {labitation  of  devils,  and  the  hold  of  every  foul  fpirit, 

'  and 


TO    THE    FALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.      509 

'  and  a  cage  of  every  unclean  and  hateful  bird.'  Now 
rtiall  flie  be  dripped  of  all  her  glory,  and  riches,  and  or- 
naments, and  iliall  be  cafl:  out  as  an  abominable  branch, 
and  fhall  be  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the  ftreets.  All 
her  policy  and  craft,  in  which  fhe  fo  abounded,  fhall  not 
fave  her.  And  God  fliall  make  his  people,  who  have  been  • 
fo  perfecuted  by  her,  to  come  and  put  their  foot  on  the 
neck  of  antichiiR:,  and  he  fliall  be  their  footflool.  All 
the  ftrength  and  wifdom  of  this  great  harlot  (hall  fail  her, 
and  there  fhall  be  none  to  help  her.  The  kings  of  the 
earth,  who  before  gave  their  power  and  flrength  to  the 
beaft,  fliall  now  hate  her,  and  Ihall  make  her  defolatc  and 
naked,  and  Ihall  eat  her  fielh,  and  burn  her  with  fire. 
[Rev.  xviii  16.] 

The  Afahomctan  kingdom  fliall  be  utterly  overthrown  : 
the  locufls  and  horfemen  [Rev.  ix.  10.]  have  their  ap- 
pointed and  limited  time  let  them,  and  the  falfe  prophet 
fhall  be  taken  and  deflroyed.  And  then,  though  Maho- 
metanifm  has  been  fo  vaftly  propagated  in  the  world,  and 
is  upheld  by  fuch  a  great  empire,  this  fmoke,  which  has 
afcended  out  of  the  bottomlefs  pit,  fhall  be  utterly  fcat- 
tered  before  the  light  of  that  glorious  day,  and  the  Maho- 
metan empire  fliall  fall  at  the  found  of  the  great  trumpet 
which  fhall  then  be  blown. 

yewlJJi  infideUty  fhall  then  be  overthrown.  However 
obftinatc  they  have  been  now  for  above  lyoo  years  in  rc- 
je6ling  Chrifl,  and  though  inftances  of  their  converfion 
have  been  fo  rare  everfince  the  defVru6tion  of  Jerufalem. 
and  they  have,  againffc  the  plain  words  of  their  own  pro- 
phets, continued  to  approve  of  the  cruelty  of  their  fore- 
fathers in  crucifying  Chrifl:  ;  yet  when  this  day  comes,  the 
thick  vail  that  blinds  their  eyes  fhall  be  removed,  [2  Cor. 
iii.  16.]  divine  grace  fhall  melt  and  renew  their  hard 
hearts,  '  and  they  fhall  look  on  him  whom  they  have 
'  pierced,  and  they  fliall  mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourncth 
'  for  his  only  fon,  and  fhall  be  in  bitternefs  as  one  that  is 
*  in  bitternefs  for  his  firfl-born.'  [Zech.  xii.  10,  ^c] 
And  then  fliall  the  houfe  of  Ifrael  be  faved  :  the  Jews  in 
i\\  their  difperfions  fhall  cafl  away  their  old  infidelity  ; 

fliall 


510        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

lliali  have  their  hearts  wonderfully  changed,  and  abhor 
themfelves  for  their  paft  unbelief  and  obftinacy ;  and  fhall 
flow  together  to  the  bleffed  Jefus,  penitently,  humbly,  and 
joyfully  owing  him  as  their  glorious  King  and  only  Saviour, 
and  fhall,  with  one  heart  and  voice,  declare  his  praifes  unto 
other  nations. 

Nothing  is  more  certainly  foretold,  than  this  national 
converfion  of  the  Jews  is  in  the  xith  chapter  of  Romans. 
And  there  are  alfo  many  paffages  of  the  Old  Teftament 
■which  cannot  well  be  interpreted  in  any  other  fenfe,  which 
I  fhall  not  now  particularly  mention.  Befides  the  pro- 
phecies of  the  calling  of  the  Jews,  we  have  a  remarkable 
feal  of  the  fulfilment  of  this  great  event  in  providence,  by 
their  being  preferved  a  diflin^l  nation  in  fuch  a  difperfed 
condition  for  above  1600  years,  which  is  a  kind  of  conti- 
nual miracle,  (x)      When  they  fliall  be  called,  then  fliall 

that 

(x)  Preservation  of  the  Jews.]  "  I  have  often  amufed  my- 
felf  (fays  Mr.  Addison)  with  fpeculations  on  the  race  of  people 
called  Jews,  many  of  whom  I  have  met  with  in  moil  of  the  confi- 
derable  towns  which  I  have  paffed  through  in  the  courfe  of  my 
travels.  They  are,  indeed,  fo  difTemiiiated  through  all  the  trad- 
ing parts  of  the  world,  that  they  are  become  the  inftruments  by 
which  the  mofl  diftant  nations  converfc  with  one  another,  and  by 
which  mankind  are  knit  together  in  a  general  correfpondence  : 
they  are  like  the  pegs  and  nails  in  a  great  building,  .which  though 
they  are  but  little  valued  in  themfelve?,  are  abfolutely  neceflary  to 
keep  the  whole  frame  together. 

"  The  Jews  are  looked  upon  by  many  to  be  as  numerous  at 
prcfent,  as  they  were  formerly  in  the  land  of  Canaan.  This  is 
wonderful,  confidering  the  dreadful  daughter  made  of  them  under 
fomc  of  the  Roman  emperors,  which  hiftorians  defcribe  by  the 
death  of  many  hundred  thoufands  in  a  war;  and  the  innumerable 
maflacrcs  and  perfecutions  they  have  undergone  in  Turkey,  as 
Tvell  as  in  all  Chriftian  nations  of  the  world.  The  Rabbins,  to  ex- 
prefs  the  great  havock  which  has  been  fometimcs  made  of  them, 
tell  us,  after  their  ufual  manner  of  hyperbole,  that  there  were 
fuch  torrents  of  holy  blood  filed  as  carried  rocks  of  an  hundred 
yards  in  circumference  above  three  miles  into  the  fea. 

"  Their  difperiion  is  the  fecond  remarkable  particular  in  this 
people.  They  fwarm  over  all  the  Eafl ;  and  are  fettled  in  the  re- 
moteil  parts  of  China :  they  are  fpread  through  mofi  of  the  na- 
tions of  Europe  and  Africa,  and  many  families  of  them  are  eflab- 
Jiflied  in  the  Weft-Indiesj  net  to  mention  whole  nations  bordering 

on 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        511 

that  ancient  people,  that  were  alone  God's  people  for  fo 
long  a  time,  be  received  again,  never  to  be  rejected  more  : 
they  fhall  then  be  gathered  into  one  fold  together  with  the 

Gentiles  ; 

on  Prefter- John's  country,  and  fome  difcovered  in  the  inner  parts 
of  America,  if  we  may  give  any  credit  to  their  own  writers. 

*'  Their  firm  adherence  to  their  religion  is  no  lefs  remarkable 
than  their  numbers  and  difperfion,  efpecially  confidering  it  as  p..M-- 
fecuted  or  contemned  over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth.  This  is 
Hkewife  the  more  remarkable,  if  we  confider  the  frequent  apoftafies 
of  this  people,  when  they  lived  under  their  kings  in  the  Land  of 
Promife,  and  within  fight  of  their  temple. 

"  If  in  the  next  place  we  examine,  what  may  be  the  natural 
reafons  for  thefe  three  particulars  which  we  find  in  the  Jews,  and 
which  arc  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  religion  or  people,  I  can, 
in  the  firfl:  place,  attribute  their  numbers  to  nothing  but  their  con- 
ftant  employment,  their  abftinence,  their  exemption  from  wars, 
and,  above  all,  their  frequent  marriages,  for  they  look  on  celibacy 
as  an  accurfed  ftate,  and  generally  are  married  before  twenty,  as 
hoping  the  Meffiah  may  defcend  from  them. 

"  The  difperfion  of  the  Jews  into  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  is 
the  fecond  remarkable  paiticular  of  that  people,  though  not  fo 
hard  to  be  accounted  for.  They  were  always  in  rebellions  and 
tumults  while  they  had  the  temple  and  holy  city  in  view,  for  which 
reafon  they  have  been  often  driven  out  of  their  old  habitations  in 
the  Land  of  Promife.  They  have  as  often  been  banifhed  out  of  moft 
other  places  where  they  have  fettled,  which  muft  very  much  difperfe 
and  fcatter  a  people,  and  oblige  tshem  to  feek  a  livelihood  where 
they  can  find  it.  Befides,  the  whole  people  is  now  a  race  of  fuch 
merchants  as  are  wanderers  by  profcflion,  and  at  the  fame  time  are 
in  moft,  if  not  aU,  places  incapable  of  either  lands  or  offices,  that 
might  engage  them  to  make  any  part  of  the  world  their  home. 

"  This  difperfion  would  probably  have  loft  their  religion,  had  it 
not  been  fccured  by  the  ftrength  of  its  conftitution  ;  for  they  are 
to  live  all  in  a  body,  and  generally  within  the  fame  cnclofurc  ;  to 
marry  among  themfelves,  and  to  cat  no  meats  that  are  not  killed 
or  prepared  their  own  way.  This  fiiuts  them  out  from  all  tablr 
convcrfation,  and  the  moft  agreeable  intercourfes  of  life  ;  and,  by 
confequence,  excludes  them  from  the  moft  probable  means  of  con- 
verfion. 

"  If,  in  the  laft  place,  we  confider  what  providential  reafon 
may  be  afiigned  for  thefe  three  particulars,  we  ftiall  find  that  their 
numbers,  difperfion,  and  adherence  to  their  religion,  have  fur- 
niftied  every  age,  and  every  nation  of  the  world,  with  the  ftrongeft 
arguments  for  the  Chriftian  faith  ;  not  only  as  thefe  very  particu- 
lars are  foretold  of  them,  but  as  they  themfelves  are  the  depofi- 
taries  of  thefe  and  all  the  other  prophecies,  which  tend  to  their 

own 


512"      HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

Gentiles  ;  and  (o  alfo  fliall  the  remains  of  the  ten  tribes, 
wherever  they  be,  and  though  they  have  been  reje6led 
much  longer  than  the  Jews,  be  brought  in  with  their 
brethren.  The  prophecies  of  Hofea  efpecially  feem  to 
hold  this  forth,  that  in  the  future  glorious  times  of  the 
church,  both  Judah  and  Ephraim,  or  Judali  and  the  ten 
tribes,  fhall  be  brought  in  together,  and  {hall  be  united  as 
one  people,  as  they  formerly  were  under  David  and  Solo- 
mon ;   '   Then   fhall  the  children  of  Judah   and  the   chil- 

*  dren  of  Ifrael  be  gathered  together,  and  appoint  theni- 
'  felves  one  head,'  [Hofea  i.  ii,]  and  fo  in  the  lafl  chap- 
ter, and  other  parts  of  his  prophecy.  Though  we  do  not 
know  the  time  in  which  this  converfion  of  the  nation  of 
Ifrael  will  come  to  pafs  ;  yet  thus  much  we  may  determine 
by  fcripturc,  that  it  will  be  before  the  glory  of  the  Gentile 
part  of  the  church  Ihall  be  fully  accomplifhed  ;  becaufe  it 
is  faid,  that  their  coming  in  fliall  '  be  life  from  the  dead  to 

*  the  Gentiles.'   [Rom.  xi.  12-— 15-]— (y) 

Then 

own  confiifion.  Thelrnumber  furnifhes  us  with  a  fufficient  cloud 
of  witnefTes  that  attell  the  truth  of  the  Old  Bible.  Their  difper- 
Con  fpreads  thefe  witnefTes  through  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
adherence  to  their  religion  makes  their  teftimony  unqueftionable." 

[Spectator,  No.  495.] 

To  ftrengthen  thefe  remarks,  wc  fiiall  add  the  following  anec- 
dote : — A  perfon,  the  former  part  of  whofe  life  was  fpent  in  vice, 
when  he  became  thoughtful  of  death  and  eternity,  was  fhaken  in 
mind  from  day  to  day  with  many  doubts  about  the  truth  of  the 
Chriftian  faith  ;  and  being  upon  the  point  of  a  refohition  to  re- 
nounce it,  as  he  was  paffing  through  a  ftreet  in  the  city,  he  call 
his  eyes  upon  a  J^ew  ;  prefcntly  his  doubts  vanilhed,  and  by  the 
bleffing  of  God  attending  that  providential  occurrence  he  became 
a  confirmed  believer. 

[Winter's  Sermons  on  Dan.  p.  153.] 

(y)  !r/:>f  restoration  of  t/^e  Jews. "}  Mr.  Locke  [in  Ioc.J 
gives  us  the  fubflance  of  the  xith  chapter  of  the  Romans  above  re- 
ferred to  in  a  few  words  :  "  St.  Paul  in  this  chapter  goes  on  to 
fliew  the  future  ftate  of  the  Jews  and  Gentiles,  as  to  Chrlillanity, 
viz.  that  though  the  Jews  were  for  their  unbelief  rcjefted,  and  the 
Gentiles  taken  in  their  room  to  be  tlje  people  of  God  ;  yet  there 
was  a  few  of  the  Jews  that  believed  In  Chrlli,  and  fo  a  fmall  rem- 
nant of  them  continued  to  be  God's  people,  being  incorporated 
with  the  converted  Gciitllcs  into  the  Chriliiaa  church.      But  when 

tlie 


TO   THE    FALL  OF   ANTICHRIST.       513 

Then  fliall  alio  Satan's  heathemjli  kingdom  be  over- 
thrown. Grofs  heathenifm  now  polTefles  a  great  part  of 
the  earth,  and  there  arc  fuppofed  to  be  more  heathens 
now  in  the  world,  than  of  all  other  profelllons  taken  to- 
gether, Jews,  Mahometans,  and  Chriftians.  But  then  the 
heathen  nations  ihall  be  enlightened  with  the  glorious  gof- 
pel.  There  will  be  a  wonderful  fpirit  of  pity  towards 
them,  and  zeal  for  their  inftrud^ion  and  converdon  put 
into  multitudes,  and  many  ihall  go  forth  and  carry  the 
gofpel  unto  them ;  and  then  Ihall  the  joyful  found  be 
heard  among  them,  and  the  Sun  of  righteoufncfs  fliall 
arife  with  his  glorious  light  Ihining  on  thofe  many  vaH: 
regions  of  the  earth  that  have  been  covered  with  heathen- 
ifli  darknefs  for  feme  thoufand  years,  many  of  them 
doubclefs  ever  fmce  the  time  of  Mofes  and  Abrahain,  and 
have  lain  thus  long  in  a  milerable  condiiion,  under  the 
cruel  tyranny  of  the  devil,  who  has  all  this  while  blinded 

3  U  and 

the  fulnefs  of  the  Gentiles  is  come  in,  [fee  ver.  i^,  26.]  the  whole 
nation  of  them  (hall  be  converted  to  the  gofpel,  and  again  be  re- 
ftored  to  be  the  people  of  God." 

Dr.  W.  Harris  juflly  obferves,  that  "  as  this  epiflle  was  writ- 
ten ....  long  after  the  moft  remarkable  converfion  of  the  Jews, 
by  the  firft  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  and  after  Paul  had  been  about 
thirty  years  engaged  in  the  work,  it  appears  that  the  Prophecies 
relating  to  the  caUing  of  the  Jews  were  not  accomplilhcd  then,  and 
confequcntly  are  not  yet  accomphfhed."  [Dlf.  on  the  Mefiiah, 
p.  91.] 

Dr.  Whitby,  [in  loc.]  very  juftly  obferves,  that  "  there  is  a 
double  harvell  of  the  Gentiles  fpoken  of  in  this  chapter  ;  the  full 
called  their  riches,  [ver.  1 2.  J  as  confiding  in  preaching  the  gofpel  to 
all  nations,  whereby  indeed  they  were  happily  enriched  with  divine 
knowledge  and  grace  ;  the  fecond,  the  bringing  in  xhc'w  fuHnrfj, 
which  expreffcs  a  more  glorious  converfion  of  many  to  the  true 
faith  of  Chriftlans  in  the  latter  age  of  the  world,  which  is  to  be 
.occafioned  by  the  converfion  of  the  Jews." 

It  is  indeed  now  pretty  generally  agreed  among  the  learned, 
that  we  are  warranted  by  the  fcriptures  to  expect  a  national  con- 
verfion of  the  Jews,  and  their  return  to  their  own  land  ;  and  th;; 
chief  thing  which  has  prejudiced  fo  many  perfons  againil  this  hy- 
pothefis  is,  that  fome  (Hvincs  have  carried  it  too  far,  almoll  to 
the  relUtution  of  Judaifm  itfelf,  and  added  a  number  of  pattici:- 
lars  from  their  own  conjefture,  which  are  by  no  means  plainly 
revealed.  [G.  Z^ 


5H        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

and  made  a  prey  of  them  from  generation  to  generation. 
Now  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gofpel  rtiall  found  tliere,  and 
they  flrali  be  brought  out  of  darknefs  into  marvellous 
light,  (z) 

It  is  promifed  in  many  places  that  heathenifm  (hall 
thus  be  deflroyed :  thus  it  is  faid,  that  '  the  gods  which  have 

*  not  made  thefe  heavens  and  this  earth,   ihall  perifli  from 

*  the  earth,  and  fro. n  under  thefe  heavens,  [  Jer.  x.  ii.] 
'   and  that  he  will  utterly  abolifh  idols.'  [Ifa.  ii.  i8.]   Then 

fliall 

(z)  State  of  the  heathen  world.]  Divines  have  much  difpu- 
ted  about  the  falvation  of  the  heathen;  fome  have  precipitately 
given  them  up  entirely  to  the  devil,  and  configned  them  over  to 
everlaillug  darknefs  and  defpair ;  while  others,  fhudderlng  at  fo 
horrid  an  idea,  have  ran  into  the  oppofite  extreme,  and  fuppofe, 
that  they  might  be  faved  merely  by  the  light  of  nature. 

"  lam  perfuaded,  (fays  the  amiable  Dr.  Watts)  that  God  ne- 
ver did,  nor  will  forgive  the  lin  of  any  man,  ....  but  upon  the 
account  of  what  Jefus  has  done  and  fuffered,  .  .  .  fo  that  if  hea- 
thens are  faved,  I  think  it  is  owing  to  the  merit  of  Chrift  and  his 
death.      '  There  is  falvation  In  no  other,  nor  is  there  any  other 

*  name  whereby  men  may  be  faved.'  [A£ls  iv.  12.]  ....  But, 
thouo-h  I  fuppofe  no  man  ihall  be  faved  but  by  virtue  of  the  me- 
diation and  death  of  Chrift,  ....  yet  there  is  good  reafon  to  be- 
lieve, that  there  have  been  many  finners  actually  faved,  who  never 
believed  In  Jefus  Chrift, .  .  .  nor  ever  heard  of  his  name."  [Strength 
and  Weakncfs  of  human  Reafon,  p.  106.] 

To  confirm  the  latter  obfervatlon  our  Chriftian  Phllofopher, 
among  other  inftances,  mentions  Cornelius^  who  *  feared  God,  and 

*  was  accepted  of  him,'  previous  to  his  having  any  knowledge  of 
Jefus  Chrift  and  the  gofpel.      [Aftsx.  31,  33.] 

Pcrfeftly  confiftent  with  the  above  are  the  fentlments  of  the 
elcgunt  Monf  Saurin  ;  "  We  will  not  fay  with  fome  divines, 
that  the  heatliens  were  faved  by  an  implicit  faith,  ....  we  will 
not  affirm  with  Clement  of  Alexandria,  that  phllofophy  was  to  the 
Greeks,  what  the  law  was  to  the  Jews  ;  •  .  .  .  nor  with  St.  Chry- 
foftom,  that  they  who,  defpifing  Idolatry,  adored  the  Creator  .  .  . 
were  faved  without  faith  ;  .  .  .  .  [nor]  like  one  of  our  reformers, 
(Zuingllus)  place  Thefus,  Hercules,  Numa,  Sic.  with  the  pa- 
triarchs.  .  .  and  apoftles;  ....  lefs  ftill  do  we  fay   with  St.  Au- 

guftin  that  the  Eiytjirean  Sybil  is  in  heaven But  after  all, 

who  dare  Imit  the  Holy  One  of  ffrael?  Who  dare  afiirm  that 
God  could  not  reveal  himfelf  to  ct  heathen  on  his  death  bed? 
Who  will  venture  to  fay  he  hath  never  done  fo  ?  [Sermons,  vol. 
li.p.  314.] 


TO   THE   PALL    OF   ANTICHRIST.       515 

/hall  the  nations  of  Africa,  the  negroes,  (a)  and  other 
heathens  who  chiefly  fill  that  quarter  of  the  world,  wlio 
now  feem  to  be  in  a  rtate  but  little  above  the  beafts,  and 
in  fome  refpedts  below  them,  be  enlightened  with  glori- 
ous light,  and  delivered  from  all  their  darknefs,  and  (liall 
become  a  civilized,  intelligent,  and  holy  people.  Then 
fliall  the  vaft  continent  ot  America,  fo  great  a  part  of 
which  is  covered  with  barbarous  ignorance  and  cruelty, 
be  every  where  covered  with  glorious  gofpel  light  and 
Chrifiian  love  ;  and  inftead  of  worlliipping  the  devil,  as 
now  they  do,  tliey  Hiall  ferve  God,  and  praifes  fliall  be 
fung  every  where  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl:»  the  Saviour  of 
the  world.  So  may  we  expc6l  it  will  be  in  that  great 
and  populous  part  of  the  world,  the  Eall  Indies,  which 
are  now  moRly  inhabited  by  the  worfliippers  of  the  devil  , 
and  fo  throughout  that  vail  country  Great  Tartary  :  (b) 
then  the  kingdom  of  Chrilt  will  be  eflabliihed  in  thofe 
continents  which  have  been  more  lately  difcovered  towards 
the  north  and  fouth  poles,  where  now  men  differ  very 
little   from  the  wild  beafts,  excepting  that  they  vvorlhip 

3  U  2  the 

(a)  The Jlate  of  the  negroes.]  May  we  not  hope  from  the 
prefent  appearance  of  things,  that  it  is  rcfcrved  for  our  age  and 
nation  to  liberate,  at  leaft  in  a  happy  degree,  thefc  miferable  out- 
calls  of  mankind,  and  thus  prepare  the  way  for  the  introduftion 
of  the  gofpel  among  them  ?  which  in  their  prefent  ftate  feems  next 
to  impoffible.  [U.  S.] 

(b)  The  IDOLATRY  of  the  Tartars.]  "  The  Dela'i  Lama  is 
the  grand  objcCl  of  adoration  for  the  various  tribes  of  heathen 
Tartars,  who  roam  that  vaft  traft  of  continent  which  ftrctches 
from  the  banks  of  the  Volga  to  Correa  on  the  fca  of  Japan  ;  the 
moft  extenfive  religious  dominion,  perhaps,  on  the  face  of  the 
globe.  He  is  not  only  the  fovereign  pontiff,  the  vicegerent  of 
the  Deity  upon  earth  ;  but .  .  .  the  more  remote  Tartars  abfo- 
lutely  regard  him  as  the  Deity  hlmfelf.  They  believe  him  immor- 
tal, and  endowed  with  all  knowledge  and  virtue.  Every  year 
they  come  up  from  different  parts  to  worfliip  and  make  rich  of- 
ferings at  his  (lirine.  .  .  .  The  orthodox  opinion  is,  that  when  tlic 
Grand  Lama  feems  to  die,  ....  his  foul  ....  only  quits  a  .  .  .  . 
crazy  habitation  to  look  for  another,  ....  and  is  difcovered  again 
in  the  body  of  fome  child,  by  certain  tokens  known  only  to  the 
lamas^  or  priefts."  [5'/,?7wr/'s  Account  of  Thibet,  Philof.  Tranf. 
▼ol.  Ixvii.] 


5i6        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

the  devil,  and  beafls  do  not.  Tiie  fame  will  be  the  cafe 
with  thofe  countries  which  have  never  yet  been  difcovered. 
Thus  will  be  glorioufly  fulfilled  that  promife,  [Ifa.  xxxv. 
I.]     '  The  wildernefs  and  the  folitary  place  fliall  be  glad 

*  for  them  :    and  the  dcfert  fhali  rejoice  and  bloiTom  as  the 

*  rofe.'   [See  alfo  ver.  6,  7.] 

[2.]  Having  thus  fliown  wherein  this  overthrow  of 
Satan's  kingdom  will  confift,  I  come  now  to  obferve  its 
tmivcrfal  extent.  The  vifible  kingdom  of  Satan  lliall  be 
overthrown,  and  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  fet  tip  on  the 
ruins  of  it,  every  where  throughout  the  habitable  globe. 
ISIow  fliall  the  promife  made  to  Abraham  be  fulfilled,  that 

*  in  him  and  in  his  feed  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 

*  blelTed  ;'  and  Chrift  now  fliall  become  the  defire  of  all 
nations.  [Haggai  ii.  7.]  Now  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  (hall, 
in  the  moft  ftri6t  and  literal  fenfe,  be  extended  to  all  na- 
tions, and  the  whole  earth.  There  are  many  paflages 
of  fcripture  that  can  be  underftood  in  no  other  fenfe. 
What  can  be  more  univerfal  than  this,  [Ifa.  xi.  9.  ]  '  For 
'  the  earch  fliall  h^  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as 

*  the  waters  cover  the  fea.'  As  tliere  is  no  channel  or  cavi- 
ty of  the  fea  any  where,  but  what  is  covered  with  water  ;  fo 
there  lliall  be  no  part  of  the  habitable  world,  but  what  fliall 
be  covered  with  the  knowledge  of  God.  So  it  is  foretold 
[Ifa.  xlv.  22.]  that  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  fliall  look  to 
Chrift  and  be  faved.  And  to  fhow  that  the  words  are 
to  be  underftood  in  the  moft  nniverfal  fenfe,  it  is  faid  in 
t'lie  next  verfe,    '  I    have  fworn   by  myfelf,  the  word  is 

*  gone  out  of  my  mouth  in  righteoufnefs,  and  fliall  not 

*  return,  that  unto  me  every  knee  ftiall  bow,  every  tongue 

*  fliall  fwear.'      So   the  prophet  Daniel,   [chap.  vii.  27-] 

*  And  the  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  tliQ  greatnefs  of  the 
'  kingdom   under  the  whole  heaven  fhall  be  given  to  the 

*  people  of  the  faints  of  the  moft  High  God.'  When 
the  devil  was  caft  out  of  the  Roman  empire,  that  being 
the  principal  part  of  the  world,  and  the  other  nations 
being  mean  in  coinparifon  of  thofe  of  that  empire,  it  was 
reprefented  as  Satan's  being  caft  out  of  heaven  to  the 
earth,    [Rev.  xii.  9]   but   it  is   reprefented  that  he    fiiall 

be 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        517 

be  caft  out  of  the  earth  too.  and  fhut  up  in  hell.  [Rev.  xx. 
I— 3.]— This  is  the  greateft  revolution  by  far  that  ever 
came  to  pafs :  therefore  it  is  faid,  [Rev.  xvi.  ly,  18.]  that 
On  pouring  out  the  feventh  phial  there  was  a  great  earth- 
quake, fuchas  was  not  fince  men  were  upon  earth,  fo  mighty 
an  earthquake  and  fo  great. 

(y.)  And  this  is  the  third  great  difpenfation  of  Provi- 
dence, which  is  in  Icripture  compared  to  Chrift's  com- 
ing to  judgment.  So  it  is  faid,  after  the  fixth  phial,  and 
after  the  devil's  armies  were  gathered  together  to  their 
•Treat  battle,  and  jufi:  before  Chrifl's  glorious  victory  over 
them,  [Rev.  xvi.  15.]  <  Behold,  I  come  quickly  ;  bleffed 
'  is  he  that  watcheth,  and  keepeth  his  garments.'  So 
[2  Thcf.   ii.   8.]    fpeaking  of  antichriil:,  it   is  faid,   '  And 

*  then  fliall  that  wicked  be  revealed,  whom  the  Lord  (hall 
'  confume  with  the  fpirit  of  his  mouth,  and  fhall  deftroy 

*  witii  the  brightncfs  of  his  coming.'  So  Chrift's  coming 
to  fet  up  his  kingdom  on  earth,  and  to  deftroy  antichriil:, 
\s  cciWed  coming  zvit/i  clouds  of /leave?!.  [Dan.  vii.  13,  14.] 
And  this  is  more  like  Chrifl's  laft  coming  to  judgment, 
than  any  of  the  preceding  difpenfations  which  are  fo  called, 
on  thefe  accounts  : 

[i.]  That  the  difpenfation  is  greater  and  more  uni- 
verfal,  and  fo  more  like  the  day  of  judgment,  wiiich  re- 
fpe61:s  the  whole  world. 

[2.]  On  account  of  the  fpiritual  refurre6lion  which  will 
accompany  it,  refembling  the  general  rcfurrc6lion  at  the 
end  of  the  world.     [Rev.  xx.  4.] 

[3.]  Becaufe  of  the  terrible  judgments  and  fearful  de- 
flrucftion  which  iliall  now  be  executed  on  God's  enemies. 
There  will  doubtlefs  be  at  the  introduction  of  this  difpen- 
fation a  vifible  and  awful  hand  of  God  againft  blafphe- 
mers,  and  obftinate  enemies  of  Chrift  ;  and  efpccially 
antichrift  himfelf,  which  is  compared  to  the  cafting  of 
antichrift  into  the  burning  flame,  [Dan.  vii.  11.]  and  to 
cafling  jiim  alive  into  the  lake  that  burns  with  fire  and 
brimflone.  [Rev.  xix.  20.] — Then  fliall  the  cruel  church 
of  Rome  fufFer  thofe  judgments  from  God,  which  fliall 
be  far  more  dreadful  than  her  crueleft  perfccutions  of.  the 

faints. 


5i8        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

faints.  [Rev.  xviii.  6,  7.]— The  judgments  which  God 
fnall  execute  on  the  enemies  of  the  church,  are  fo  great, 
that  they  are  compared  to  God's  fending  great  hailftones 
from  heaven  upon  them.   [Pvcv.  xvi.  21.]    '  And  there  fell 

*  upon  men  a  great  hail  out  of  heaven,  every  ftone  about 

*  the  weight  of  a  talent:  and  men  blafphemed  God,  be- 
'  caufe  of  the  plague  of  the  hail ;  for  the  plague  thereof 
'  was  exceeding  great.'  And  now  ihall  be  the  treading  of 
the  Vv'ine-prefs  of  the  wrath  of  God.  [Rev.  xiv.  19,  20.] 

[4.]  This  fhall  put  an  end  to  the  church's  fufFering 
flate,  and  fliall  be  attended  with  their  glorious  and  joyful 
praifes.  Indeed,  after  this,  near  the  end  of  the  world, 
the  church  (liall  be  greatly  threatened  ;  but  it  is  faid,  it 
iliall  be  for  a  little  feafon,  [Rev.  xx.  3.]  for  as  the  times 
of  the  church's  reft  are  but  fliort,  before  the  long  day  of 
her  afRidions  are  at  an  end,  fo  whatever  afilidtion  llie 
may  fuffer  after  this,  it  will  be  very  fliort  :  but  otherwilc 
the  day  of  the  church's  affli6lion  and  perfecution  fliall 
now  come  to  a  final  end.  The  fcriptures,  in  many 
places,  fpeak  of  this  time  as  the  end  of  the  fuffering  ftate 
of  the  church.  [Ifa.  li.  22.]  God  fays  to  his  church,  with 
refpe6l  to  this  time,  '  Behold,  I  have  taken  out  of  thine 
'  hand  the  cup  of  trembling,  even  the  dregs  of  the  cup  of 
'  my  fury  ;  thou  flialt  no  more  drink  it  again.'  [Ch.  xl. 
1,2.]    '  Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my   people,  faith  your 

*  God.     Speak   ye  comfortably   unto  Jerufalem,  and  cry 

*  unto  her  that  her  warfare  is  accompliihed,  that  her  ini- 

*  quity  is  pardoned  ;    for  fhe  hath  received  of  the  Lord's 

*  hand  double  for  all  her  fins.'  [Ch.  xl.  20.]  '  The 
'  Lord  fliall  be  thine  everlafting  light,  and  the  days  of 
'  thy  mourning  fliall  be  ended.'  [Zeph.  iii.  15.]  '  The 
'   Lord  hath  taken  away  thy  judgments,  he  hath  caft  out 

*  thine  enemy  :    the  King  of  Ifrael,  even  the  Lord  is  in 

*  the  niidft  of  thee:  thou  flialt  not  fee  evil  anymore.' 
[See  alfo  Ifa.  liv.  8,  9.] 

The  time  which  hath  been  before  this,  hath  been  the 
church's  fowing  time,  wherein  flie  fowed  in  tears  and  in 
blood:  but  now  is  her  harveft, 'wherein  flie  will  come 
again  rejoicing,  bi'inging  her  flieaves  witii  her.     Now  the 

time 


TO  THE  FALL  OF  ANTICHRIST.        519 

time  of  the  travail  of  the  woman  cloathed  with  the  fun  is 
at  an  end :  now  ilie  hath  brought  forth  her  fon  ;  for  this 
glorious  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrill  through  the 
world,  is  what  the  church  had  been  in  travail  for,  with 
fuch   terrible   pangs,    for  fo  many  ages;    [Ifa.  xxvi.  ly.] 

*  Like  as  a  woman  with  child  that  draweth  near  the   time 

*  of  her  delivery  is  in  pain,  and  crieth  out  in  her  pangs  ; 

*  fo  have  we  been  in  thy  fight,  O  Lord.'  [Seech.  Ix.  20. 
and  Ixi.  10,  ii.]  And  now  the  church  ihall  forget  her 
forrow,  fince  a  man-child  is  born  into  the  world :  now 
fucceed  her  joyful  praife  and  triumph.  Her  praifes  fliall 
then  go  up  to  God  from  all  parts  of  the  earth  ;  [Ifa.  xlii. 
10—12.]  And  praife  Ihall  not  only  fill  the  earth,  but  alfo 
heaven.  The  church  on  earth,  and  the  church  in  hea- 
ven, fhall  both  glorioufly  rejoice  and  praife  God,  as  with 
one  heart,  on  that  occafion.  Without  doubt  it  will  be  a 
time  of  very  diftinguiflied  joy  and  praife  among  the  holy 
prophets  and  apoftles,  and  other  faints  in  heaven:  [Rev. 
xxiii.  20.]    '  Rejoice  over  her  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holv 

*  apoflles  and  prophets,  for  God  hath  avenged  you  on 
'  her.'  [Ifa.  xliv.  23.]  '  Sing,  O  ye  heavens,  for  the  Lord 

*  hath  done  it ;   fnout,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth :  break 

*  forth   into  finging,    ye  mountains,   O  forell:,  and  every 

*  tree  therein  :  for  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  Jacob,  and  glo- 

*  rified  himfelf  in  Ifrael.'  See  what  joyful  praifes  are  lung 
to  God  on  this  occafion  by  the  univerfal  church  in  heaven 
and  earth.  [Rev.  xix.  1—7.]  '  Allelujah,  falvation  and 
'  honor  and  power  unto  the  Lord  our  God,'  &c. 

[5.]  This  difpenfation  is  above  all  preceding  ones,  like 
Chrift's  coming  to  judgment,  in  that  it  puts  an  end  to  the 
former  ftate  of  the  world,  and  introduces  his  cverlafting; 
kingdom.  Now  Satan's  vifihle  kingdoni  Ihall  be  over- 
thrown, after  it  has  flood  ever  fince  the  building  of  Babel; 
and  the  old  heavens  and  the  old  earth  fhall  pafs  away,  and 
the  new  heavens  and  new  earth  be  fct  up  in  a  far  more  glo- 
rious manner  than  ever  before. 

Thus  I  have  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  pur- 
chafe  has  been  carried  on  through  the  times  of  the  afflidcd 
ftate  of  the  Chriftian  church,  from   Chrift's  refurredion, 

until 


520        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

until  antichrift   is  fallen,    and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on 
earth  is  overthrown. 


§  IV.  The  success  of  Christ's  Redemption  car- 
ried ON  IN  A  PROSPEROUS  STATE. 

I  COME  now  to  /how  how  the  fuccefs  of  redemption 
will  be  carried  on  through  that  fpace  wherein  the  Chrif- 
tian  church  ihall  for  the  moft  part  be  in  a  ftatc  of  peace 
and  profperity.  And  in  order  to  this,  I  would,  i.  Speak 
of  the  profperous  ftate  of  the  church  through  the  greater 
part  of  this  period.  2.  Of  the  great  apoflafy  there  iliall  be 
towards  the  clofe  of  it. 

I.  I  would  fpeak  of  the  profperous  ftate  of  the  church 
through  the  greater  part  of  this  period.    And  here  obferve, 

(l.)  That  this  is  moft  properly  the  time  of  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  upon  earth.  Though  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven was  in  a  degree  fet  up  foon  after  Chrift's  rcfurre^lion, 
and  in  a  farther  degree  in  the  time  of  Conftantine  ;  and 
though  the  Chriftian  church  in  all  ages  of  it  is  called  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  ;  yet  this  is  moft  eminently  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  upon  earth,  the  time  principally  intended 
by  the  prophecies  of  Daniel,  which  fpeak  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,  whence  the  Jews  took  the  expreffion.  [See 
Dan.  ii.  44.] 

(2.)  That  this  is  the  grand  period  for  the  fulfilment 
of  all  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Teftament  which  fpeak  of 
the  glorious  times  of  the  gofpel  in  the  latter  days.  Though 
there  has  been  a  bleflcd  fulfilment  of  thofe  prophecies 
already,  in  the  times  of  the  apoftles,  and  of  Conftantine  ; 
yet  the  expreffions  are  too  high  to  fuit  any  other  time  en- 
tirely, but  that  which  is  to  fucceed  the  fall  of  antichrift. 
This  is  moft  properly  the  glorious  day  of  the  golpel. 
Other  times  are  only  forerunners  and  preparatories  to  this  ; 
other  times  were  the  feed-time,  but  this  is  the  harveft.— 
But  more  particularly, 

[i.]  It  will  be  a  time  of  great  light  and  knowledge. 
The   prefent  days  are  days  of  darknefs,  in  comparifon  of 

thofe 


TO  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD.  521 

thofe  days.  The  light  of  that  glorious  time  fliall  be  lb 
great,  that  it  is  repre(ented  as  tliough  there  lliould  then 
be  uo  night,  but  only  day;  no  evening  nor  darkncfs. 
[Zcch.   xiv.  6,  7-]     '  And  it  (hall  come  10  pafs   in  that 

*  day,  that  the  light  fliali  not  be  clear,  nor  dark.     But  it 

<  fhall  be  one  day,  which  ihall  be  known  to  the  Lord, 

*  not  day,  nor  night  :  but  it  iliall  come  to  pafs,  that  at 
'  evening- time  it  fhall  be  light.'  It  is  further  reprefented, 
as  though  God  would  then  give  fuch  light  to  his  church, 
that  it  lliould  fo  much  exceed  the  glory  of  the  light  of  the 
fun  and  moon,  that  they  fliould  be  alhamed:  [Ifa.  xxiv. 
23.]   '  Then  the  moon  fliall  be  confounded,  and  the  fun 

*  afliamed,  when  the  Lord  of  hofls  Ihall  rei^n  in  Mount 

*  Zion,  and  in   Jerufalem,  and  before    his    ancients  glo- 

*  rioufly.'  There  is  a  kind'  of  veil  now  call  over  the 
greater  part  of  the  world,  which  keeps  them  in  darkncfs ; 
but  then  this  veil  Ihall  be  deflroyed  :  [Ifa.  xxv.  y.]  '  And 

*  he  will  deilroy  in  this  mountain  the  face  of  the  covering 

*  caft  over  all  people,  and  the  veil  that  is  fpread  over  all 
'  nations.'  And  then  all  countries  and  nations,  even 
thofe  which  are  now  moft  ignorant,  fliall  be  full  of  light 
and  knowledge;  and  not  only  divines,  but  ordinary  Chrif- 
tians  fliall  then  be  very  Intelligent  In  religion  ;— -[Ifa. 
xxxii.  3,  4-]  '  The  eyes  of  them  that  fee,  fliall  not  be 

<  dim ;  and  the  ears  of  them  that  hear,  fliall  hearkeii. 
'  The  heart  alfo  of  the  rafli  Ihall  underlland  knowledge.' 
[Jer.  xxxi.  34.]   '  And   they   fliall   teach  no   more   every 

*  man  his  neighbour,  and  every  man  his  brother,  faying, 
«  Know  the  Lord;  for  they  ihall  all  know  me,  from  the 
'  leafl:  of  them  unto  the  greatefl:  of  them.'  There  fliali 
then  be  a  wonderful  unravelling  of  the  difficulties  in  the 
dodlrlnes  of  religion,  and  a  clearing  up  of  icemiug  incon- 
fiftencies :    [Ifa.   xl.    4,    5.]     '  Crooked    things  ,  ihall    be 

*  made    ftraight,    and   rough  jjlaces    plain,  and    darkncfs 

*  lliall  become  light  before  God's  people.'  Difficulties  in 
fcripture  iliall  then  be  cleared  up,  and  myfl:eries  difcovered 
in  the  word  of  God,  which  were  never  revealed  before. 
This  feems  to  be  compared  to  removing  the  veil,  and  dif- 
Govering  the  ark   t.f  the  teflimony  to  the   peojjlc,  which 

3   X  befoic 


522  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

before  ufed  to  be  kept  in  the  fecret  part  of  the  temple, 
and  was  never  feen  by  them.  Thus,  at  the  founding  of 
the  feventh  angel,  when  it  is  proclaimed,  [Rev.  xi.  15.] 
'  That  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  king- 
'  doms  of  our  Lord  and  of  Chrift;'  it  is  added,  [ver. 
IQ.]  that  *  the  temple  of  God  was  opened  in  heaven,  and 
'  there  was  feen  in  his  temple  the  ark  of  his  teftament.' 
So  great  fhall  be  the  increafe  of  knowledge  in  this  time, 
that  heaven  fhall  be  as  it  were  opened  to  the  church  of 
God  on  earth. 

[2.]  It  fliall  be  a  time  of  great  holinefs.  Now  vital 
religion  fliall  every  where  prevail  and  reign.  Religion 
fliall  not  be  an  empty  profeflion,  as  it  now  moftly  is,  but 
holinefs  of  heart  and  life  fliall  abundantly  prevail.  Thofe 
times  fliall  be  an  exception  from  what  Chrift  fays  of  the 
ordinary  ftate  of  the  church,  viz.  that  there  fliall  be  but 
fewfaved;  for  now  holinefs  fliall  become  general  :  [Ifa. 
Ix.  21.]  '  Thy  people  alfo  fliall  be  all  righteous.'  Not 
that  there  will  be  none  remaining  in  a  Chriftlefs  condi- 
tion ;  but  that  vifible  wickednefs  Ihall  be  fupprefled  every 
where,  and  true  holinefs  fliall  become  general,  though 
not  univerfal.  And  it  fliall  be  a  wonderful  time,  not 
only  for  the  multitude  of  godly  men,  but  for  eminency  of 
grace:  [Ifa.  Ixv.  20.]  '  There  fliall  be  no  more  thence 
'  an  infant  of  days,  nor  an  old  man  that  hath  not  filled 
'  his  days  :  for  the   child   fliall  die  an  hundred  years  old, 

*  but  the  fmner  being  an  hundred  years  old,  fliall  be  ac- 

*  curfed.'  [Zech.  xii.  8.]  '  He  that  is  feeble  among  them 
'  at  that  day  fliall  be  as  David ;  and  the  houfe  of  David 
'  Ihall  be  as  God,  as  the  angel  of  the  Lord  before  them.' 
And  holinefs  fliall  then  be  as  it  were  infcribed  on  every 
thing,  on  all  men's  common  b\ifmcfs  and  employments, 
and  the  common  utenfils  of  life  :  all  fliall  be  as  it  were 
dedicated  to  God,  and  applied  to  holy  purpofes :  every 
thing  Ihall  then  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God;  [Ifa.  xxiii. 
18.]  '  And  her  nierchandife  and  her  hire  fliall  be  holi- 

*  nefs  to  the  Lord.'  [Zcch.  xiv.  20,  21.]— And  as  God's 
people  then  fliall  be  eminent  in  holinefs  of  heart,  fo  they 
fliall  be  alfo  in  holinefs  of  life  andpra6lice. 

[3-]  T^ 


TO  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD.  523 

[3,]  It  fhall  be  a  time  \yherein  religion  fliall  in  every 
refpeft  be  uppermofl:  in  the  world.  It  fliall  be  had  in 
great  eftcem  and  honour.  The  faints  have  hitherto  for 
the  moft  part  been  kept  under,  and  wicked  men  have 
governed ;  but  now  they  will  be  uppermoft.  The  king- 
dom fhall  be  given  into  '  the  hands  of  the  faints  of  the 
'  Moft  high  God,  [Dan.  vii.   27.]   '  And  they  fliall  reign 

*  on  earth.'  [Rev.  v.  10.]    '  They  ihall  live  and  reign  with 

*  Chrift  a  thoufand  years.'  [Rev.  xx.  4.]  In  that  day, 
fuch  perfons  as  are  eminent  for  true  piety  and  religion, 
ihall  be  chiefly  promoted  to  places  of  truft  and  authority. 
Vital  religion  fhall  then  take  poflefiion  of  palaces  and 
thrones;  and  thofe  who  are  in  the  higheft  advancement 
Ihall  be  holy  men;  [Ifa.  xlix.  23.]  '  And  kings  fliall 
'  be  thy  nurfing  fathers,  and  queens  thy  nurfing  mothers.* 
Kings  fliall  employ  all  their  power,  and  glory,  and  riches, 
for  the  advancement  of  the  honour  and  glory  of  Chrift 
and  the  good  of  his  church;   [Ifa.  Ix.   16.]  '  Thou  flialt 

*  alfo  fuck  the  milk  of  the  Gentiles,  and  fhalt  fuck  the 

*  breaft  of  kings.'  And  the  great  men  of  the  world,  and 
the  rich  mcrcliants,  and  others  who  have  wealth  and  in- 
fluence, fhall  devote  all  to  Chrift  and  his  church ;  [Pfal, 
xlv.  12.3     '  The  daughter  of  Tyre  fliall  be  there  with  a 

*  gift,  even  the  rich  among  the  people   fhall  intreat  thy 

*  favour.' 

[4.]  Thofe  will  be  times  of  great  peace  and  love. 
There  fliall  then  be  univerfal  peace  and  a  good  underftand- 
ing  among  the  nations  of  the  world,  inftead  of  fuch  con- 
fufion,  wars,  and  bloodihed,  as  has  hitherto  been  from 
one  age   to   another:   [Ifa.   ii.   4.]   '  And  he   ftiall  judge 

*  among  the  nations,  and  fiiall  rebuke  many  people  :  and 

*  they  fhall  beat  their  fvvords  into  plow  fhares,  and  their 

*  fpears  into  pruning  hooks  :  nation  fhall  not  lift  fword 

*  againft  nation,  neither  fhall  they  learn  war  any  more.' 
So  it  is  reprcfented  as  if  all  inftruments  of  war  iliould  be 
deftroyed,  as  being  become  ufelefs ;   [Pfal.  xlvi.  9.]   «  He 

*  makcth  wars  to  ceafe  unto  the  end  of  the  earth ;  he 
'  breakcth  the  bow,   and  cutteth  the  fpcar  in  funder ;  he 

*  burnetii  the  chariot  in  the  fire.'    [See  alfoZech.  ix.  10  j 

3X2  Then 


524        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

Then  fliall  all  nations  dwell  quietly  and  fafely,  without 
fear  of  any   enemy:  [Ifa.  xxxii.   i8.]    '  And  my  people 

*  fhall  dwell  in  a  peaceable  habitation,  and  in  fure  dwel- 
<  lings,  and  in  quiet  refting  places.'  [Alfo  Zech.  viii.  lo, 
II.] 

Then  fliall  malice,  envy,  and  wrath,  and  revenge,  be 
fuppreffed  every  where,  and  peace  and  love  prevail  be- 
tween man  and  man;  [which  is  moft  elegantly  fet  forth 
in  Ifa.  xi.  6—10.]  Then  fhall  there  be  peace  and  love 
between  rulers  and  ruled.  Rulers  fhall  love  their  people, 
and  with  all  their  might  feek  their  beft  good;  and  the 
people  fhall  love  their  rulers,  and  fliall  joyfully  fubmit 
to  them,  and  give  them  that  honour  which  is  their  due. 
And  fo  fliall  there  be  an  happy  love  between  minlfters 
and  their  people  :   [Mai.  iv.  6.]     '  And  he  fhall  turn  the 

*  heart  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the  heart  of  the 

*  children  to  their  fathers.'  Then  fliall  flourifh  in  an 
eminent  manner  thofe  Chriitian  virtues  of  meeknefs,  for- 
givenefs,  long  fuffering,  gentlenefs,  goodnefs,  brotherly 
kindnefs,  thofe  excellent  fruits  of  the  Spirit.  Men  in 
their  temper  and  difpofition  fhall  be  like  the  Lamb  of 
God,  the  lovely  Jefus.  The  members  fhall  be  conformed 
to  the  head. 

Then  fhall  all  the  world  be  united  in  one  amiable  fo- 
ciety.  All  nations,  on  every  fide  of  the  globe,  fhall  then 
be  knit  together  in  fweet  harmony.  All  parts  of  God's 
church  fliall  afhft  and  promote  the  fpiritual  good  of  one 
another.  A  commimication  fhall  then  be  upheld  between 
all  parts  of  the  world  to  that  end;  and  the  art  of  naviga- 
tion, which  is  now  applied  fo  much  to  favour  men's  co- 
vetoufnefs  and  pride,  and  is  ufed  fo  much  by  wicked 
debauched  men,  fliall  then  be  confecrated  to  God,  and 
rendered  fubfervient  to  the  intereft  of  religion.  [Ifa.  Ix. 
r— 9.]  And  men  fliall  then  exprefs  their  love  one  to  ano- 
ther, not  only  in  words,  but  in  deeds  of  charity,  as  wc 
learn,  [Ifa.  xxxii.  5.]   '  The  vile  perfon  fliall  be  no  more 

*  called  liberal,  nor  the  churl  faid  to  be  bountiful ;'  [ver. 
8.]  '  But  the  liberal  devifeth  liberal  things,  and  by  libera! 

*  things  fliall  he  ftand.' 

[5-]  If 


TO  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD.  525 

[5  ]  It  will  be  a  time  of  excellent  order  in  the  church 
of  Chrift.  Tlie  true  government  and  difcipline  ot  the 
church  will  then  be  fettled  and  pra6tifed.  All  the  world 
iliall  then  be  as  one  churcli,  one  orderly,  regular,  beau- 
tiful fociety.  And  as  the  body  fliall  be  one,  fo  the  mem- 
bers fliall  be  in  beautiful  proportion  to  each  other.  Then 
fliall  that  faying  be  verified,  [Pfal.  cxxii.  3.]  '  Jerufalcm 
'   is  builded  as  a  city  tliat  is  compa6l  together.' 

[6]  The  church  of  God  fhall  then  be  beautiful  and 
glorious  on  thefc  accounts ;  yea  it  will  appear  in  perfedlion 
of  beauty:  [Ifa.  Ix.  i.]  '  Arife,  fliine,  for  thy  light  is 
'  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  rifen  upon  thee.' 
[Ifa.  Ixi.  10.]  '  He  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of 
'  righteoufncfs,  as  a  bridegroom  decketh  himfelf  with  or- 
'  naments,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  herfelf  with  her  jewels.' 
On  thefe  accounts,  the  church  will  then  be  the  grcateft 
image  of  heaven  itfelf. 

[7.]  That  will  be  a  time  of  the  greateft  temporal  prof- 
perity.  Such  a  fpiritual  Itate  as  we  have  juft  defcribed, 
has  a  natural  tendency  to  temporal  profperity  :  it  has  a 
tendency  to  health  and  long  life ;  and  that  this  will  ac- 
tually  be  the  cafe   is    evident.   [Zech.   viii.    4.]    '   Thus 

*  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts,  There  ihall  yet  old  men  and 
'  old  women  dwell  in  the  ftreets  of  Jerufalem,  and  every 

*  man  with  a  ftafFin  his  hand  for  very  age.'  It  has  alfo 
a  natural  tendency  to  procure  eafe,  quietnefs,  pleafant- 
nefs,  and  checrfulnefs  of  mind,  and  alfo  wealth,  and  great 
increafe  of  children;  as  is  alfo  intimated,  [Zech.  viii.  5.] 
'  And  the    ftreets   of  the  city  fhall   be   full  of  boys  and 

*  girls  playing  in  the  ftreets  thereof.' — But  further,  the 
temporal  profperity  of  the  people  of  God  will  alfo  be 
promoted  by  a  remarkable  bleihng  from  heaven:  [Ifa. 
Ixv.  21.]  'They  fliall  build  houfes,  and  inhabit  them; 
'  and  they  fhall  plant  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them.' 
And  [Micah  iv.  4.]  '  They  fliall  fit  every  man  under 
<  his  vine,  and  under  his  fig-tree,  and  none  fhall  make 
'  them  afraid.'  [Zech.  viii.  12.]  '  For  the  feed  fhall  be 
'  profpcrous,  the  vine  fhall  give  her  fruit,  and  the  ground 
'  fhall  give  her  increafe,   and  the  heavens  fhall  give  their 

dew, 


526        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

*  dew,  and  I   will  caufe  the  remnant   of  this   people  to 

*  poflefs  all  thefe  things.'  [See  alfo  Jer.  xxxi.  12,  13. 
and  Amos  ix.  13.]  '  Yea,  then  they  fliall  receive  all 
'  manner  of  tokens   of  God's   prefence,    and  acceptance 

*  and  favom-.'     [Jer.  xxxiii.  9.]  '  And  it  fliall  be  to  me 

*  a  name  of  joy,  a  praife  and  an  honour  before   all  the 

*  nations  of  the  earth,  which  fhall  hear  all  the  good  that 

*  I  do  unto  thsm;  and  they  fhall  fear  and  tremble  for 
'  all  the  goodnefs  and  for  all  the  profperity  that  I  procure 
'  unto  it.'  Even  the  days  of  Solomon  were  but  an  image 
of  thofe  days,  as  to  the  temporal  profperity  which  fliall 
obtain  in  them. 

[8.]  It  will  alfo  be  a  time  of  great  rejoicing.  [Ifa.  xxxv. 
10.]     *  And  the  ranfomed  of  the   Lord  fhall  return  and 

*  come  to  Zion  with  fongs,  and  everlafling  joy  upon  their 
'  heads  :  they  fhall  obtain  joy  and  gladncfs,  and  forrow 
'  and  fighing  fliall  flee  away.'  [Chap.  Iv.  12.]  '  For  ye 
'  fhall  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led  forth  with  peace  :  the 

*  mountains  and  the  hills  fliall  break  forth  before  you.' 
[Chap.  Ixvi.  II.]  '  That  ye  may  fuck,  and  be  fatistied 
'  with  the  breafts  of  her  confolations ;  that  ye  may  milk 
'  out  and  be  delighted  with  the  abundance  of  her  glory.' 
[Chap.  xii.  3.]  '  With  joy  fhall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the 

*  wells  of  falvation.' — Then  will  be  a  time  of  feafting. 
That  will  be  the  church's  glcrious  wedding-day,  fo  far  as 
her  wedding  with  Chrift  fhall  ever  be  upon  earth  :  [Rev. 
xix.  y.]  '  Let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice,  and  give  honour  to 
'  him ;  for  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  is  come,  and  his 
'  wife  hath  made  herfelf  ready.'  [Ver.  9.]  '  BlefTed  are 
'  they  which  are  called  to  the  marriage-fuppcr  of  the 
'  Lamb.'— But  I  come  now, 

(3.)  To  fay  fomething  of  the  duration  of  this  ftate  of 
the  church's  profperity.  On  this  I  fhall  be  very  brief. 
The  fcriptures  every  where  reprefent  it  to  be  of  long  con- 
tinuance. The  former  intervals  of  refl  and  profperity,  as 
we  before  obferved,  arc  rcprefented  to  be  but  fhort;  but 
the  reprcfcntations  of  this  ftate  nr.e  quite  different :  [Rev. 
XX.  4.]  '  And  I  faw  the  fouls  of  ^hem  that  were  beheaded 
^  for  the  witnefs  of  Jcfus,  and  thcv  lived  and  reigned  with 

Chrift 


TO  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD.  527 

'  Chv'iii  a  t/i on/and  years.'  (c)  '  Whereas  thou  hafl  been 
'  forfaken  and  hated,  lo  that  no  man  went  through  thee, 
<  I  will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  a  joy  of  many 
'  generations.'   [Ifa.  Ix.  15.] 

This 

(c)  T/:>e  MiLLEMU  M.]  *  The  fouls  of  them  that  were  beheaded 
for  the  wjtncfs  of  Jefus,'  may  be  confidered  as  meant,  not  of  the 
individual  perfons  that  fuffered  martyrdom  for  his  fake,  but  of  their 
fucceffors  in  the  fame  fpirit,  who  being  of  the  fame  temper  for 
faith,  patience,  zeal,  and  fortitude,  and  profefling  the  fame  doc- 
trines with  the  martyrs,  were  one  body  with  them,  and  fo,  in  the 
llile  of  prophecy,  might  be  fpoken  of,  as  though  they  were  the 
fame  perfons,  in  like  manner  as  John  the  Baptifl  is  called  Elias, 
becaufe  he  came  in  the  fpirit  and  power  of  Elias,  [Matt.  xi.  14, 
and  xvii.  12.  compared  with  Luke  i.  17.]  and  as  Rome-antichrif- 
tian  is  in  feveral  places  of  this  prophecy  called  Sodom,  Egypt,  and 
Babylon,  on  account  of  its  being  like  them  in  idolatry,  pride, 
luxury,  and  cruelty;  and  the  two  witnefTes  that  were  to  prophefy 
in  fackcloth  one  thoufand  two  hundred  and  fixty  days  of  years, 
[Rev.  xi.  3.]  could  not  mean  the  fame  individual  perfons,  but  a 
fucccffion  of  them  that  perfifted  in  the  fame  faith  and  profeffion. 
When  therefore  it  is  faid,  *  The  fouls  of  them  that  v/ere  beheaded 

*  for  the  witnefs  of  Jefus,  lived  and  reigned  v/itli  Chrift  a  thoufand 
'  years;'  this  may  be  taken,  according  to  prophetic  ftile,  in  a  me- 
taphorical fenfe,  and  may  fignify  a  fuccelTion  of  fuch;  in  like  man- 
ner as  the  two  witnefTes  being  killed,  and  their  '  dead  bodies  rifing 
'  and  Handing  on  their  feet,'  is  to  be  underftood,  [Rev.  xi.  7.  1  i.J 
and  as  the  reiteration  of  Ifrael  from  their  captivity  is  called  their 
'  living  and  Handing  on  their  feet,  and  God's  opening  their  graves, 

*  and  caufing  them  to  come  out  of  their  graves,'  [Ezek.  xxxvii. 
9,  10,  12.]  and  as  the  converfion  of  the  Jews,  in  the  laft  days,  is 
fpoken  of,  as  *  life  from  the  dead.  [Rom.  xi.  15.]  Accordingly 
the  faints  '  living  and  reigning  with  Chrift,'  may  relate  to  their 
abundance  of  fpirituality,  purity  and  glory,  light,  love,  and  joy, 
tranquillity  and  fafety  ;  and  to  the  power  of  the  civil  maglftracy, 
as  being  in  their  hands,  and  exercifed  with  great  authority  and 
fuccefs,  for  fupprcfling  all  iniquity  and  prophanenefs,  and  promot- 
ing true  religion  and  holincfs  in  thofe  happy  days. —  I  am  not  in- 
fcnfible,  that  many  learned  and  pious  men  have  put  a  literal  con- 
ftruftion  on  this  prophecy,  to  denote  a  proper  refuireftion  of  the 
dead  bodies  of  former  martyrs,  and  (asfome  of  them  think)  of  all 
other  departed  faints;  and  they  accordingly  fuppofe,  that  their 
dead  bodies  fliall  be  raifed  to  life,  and  reign,  in  a  glorious  manner, 
with  Chrilt,  as  perfonally  and  vifibly  fitting  on  his  throne,  for  a 
thoufand  years,  upon  earth.  But  as  I  can  fcarce  think  that  tiie  cor- 
poral prefcnce  of  Chrift  will  be  removed,  for  a  thoufand  years,  from 
heaven  to  earth,  fo  a  literal  refurrettion  of  all  the  bodies  of  the 

faints 


528        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

This  may  fuffice  as  to  the  profperous  llate  of  the  church 
through  the  greater  part  of  the  period,  from  the  deflruftion 
of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  in  the  world,  to  Chrift's  appear- 
ing in  the  clouds  of  heaven  to  judgment. 

I  now  come  to  fpeak  of  the  great  apoftafy  there  rtiould 
be  towards  the  clofe  of  this  period,  and  how  eminently  the 
church  ilrould  be  for  a  fliort  time  threatened  by  her  ene- 
mies.    And  this  I  fnall  do  under  three  particulars  : 

(i.)  A  little  before  the  end  of  the  world  there  fliall  be 
■i  very  great  apofcafy,  wherein  great  part  of  the  world  fliall 
fall  away  from  Chrifl:  and  his  church.  It  is  faid,  [Rev. 
XX.  3.]  that  Satan  lliouid  be  cafl  into  the  bottomlefs  pit. 

and 

faints  is  fpoken  of,  as,  '  in  a  moment.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
*  at  the  laft  trump,'  in  order  to  their  meeting  the  Lord  in  the  air, 
and  being  with  him,  not  on  earth,  but  for  ever  in  heaven,  [i  Cor. 
XV.  52.  and  i  Theffl  iv.  16,  17.]  And  after  the  expiration  of 
this  thoufand  years,  and  after  Satan  fliall  be  loofed  again  for  a 
little  while  at  the  end  of  them,  we  have  an  account  of  the  general 
refurreftlon  of  all  perfons,  without  any  exception,  or  the  leaft  hint 
that  the  martyrs,  or  any  other  faints,  had  rofe  fo  long  a  time 
before.  [Rev.  xl.  12,  13.]  And  as  a  proper  refurreftlon  Is  never 
exprefled,  in  fcrlpture,  by  the  reviving  or  living  again  of  the  foul, 
but  only  of  the  body;  fo  It  feems  extremely  forced  to  underlland 
the  '  living  again  of  the  Immortal  fyuls'  of  them  that  were  be- 
headed, as  defcriptlve  of  a  literal  refurrecSIon,  and, a  refurreftlon 
of  the  bodies  of  glorified  faints,  to  live  on  earth  for  a  thoufand 
years,  feems  Inconfiftent  with  the  fubllmer  felicity  and  honour  of 
their  fouls  wei-e  poffefled  of  before  In  heaven,  and  with  their  being 
liable  to  be  deceived,  in  cafe  Satan  had  not  been  reflralned,  as  alfo 
with  the  trouble  that  mull  neceffarlly  arlfe  to  them  from  the  vigor- 
ous oppofitlon  which  he  and  his  army  would  make  againft  them  at 
the  expiration  of  the  thoufand  years  In  which  he  was  bound.  It 
muft  llkewlfe  be  an  exceeding  dcbafcment  of  their  refined  dignity 
and  delight  In  the  immediate  prcfence  of  Chrlft  on  his  heavenly 
throne,  to  exchange  them  for  any  pleafures  or  honours  upon  the 
earth,  efpecially  If  (as  fomc  Millenaries  imagine)  they  arc  to  be 
entertained  with  any  fenfitive  enjoyments.  1  therefore  rather  In- 
cline to  think,  that,  according  to  the  fllle  of  prophecy,  and  par- 
ticularly in  this  book,  which  Is  figurative,  all  this  relates  not  lite- 
rally to  the  refurreftlon  of  the  martyrs  or  other  faints,  and  the 
perlbnal  reign  of  Chrlft  for  a  thoufand  years  on  earth;  but  figu- 
ratively, and  in  a  fpiritual  fenfe,  for  glorious  days  of  long  conti- 
nuance to  the  church  on  earth;  whether  for  the  precife  number  of 
a  thoi'jandy&dixs,  or  more.   [Dr.  Guise's  Paraph,  in  loc] 


TO  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD.  529 

and  fliut  up,  and  have  a  feal  fet  upon  him,  that  he  fliould 
deceive  the  nations  no  more  till  the  thoufand  years  ihall 
be  fulfilled;  and  that,  after  that,  he  muft  be  loofed  out 
of  his  prifon  for  a  little  feafon.  And  accordingly  we  are 
told  [vcr.  7  and  8.]  that  when  the  thoufand  years  are 
expired,  Satan  fliall  be  loofed  out  of  his  prifon,  and  fhall 
go  forth  to  deceive  the  nations  which  are  in  the  four 
quarters  of  the  earth,  Gog  and  Magog.  Which  feems  as 
though  the  apoftafy  would  be  very  general.  The  nations 
of  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth  fliall  be  deceived ;  and 
the  number  of  thofe  who  fliall  now  turn  enemies  to  Chrlft 
fliall  be  vaflly  great,  as  the  army  of  Gog  and  Magog  is 
reprefented  in  Ezekiel,  and  as  it  is  faid  [Rev.  xx.  8.]  that 
the  number  of  them  is  as  the  fand  of  the  fea,  and  that 
they  went  upon  the  breadth  of  the  earth,  as  though  they 
were  an  army  big  enough  to  reach  from  one  fide  of  the 
earth  to  the  other. 

Thus  after  fuch  an  happy  and  glorious  feafon,  fuch  a 
long  day  of  light  and  hollnefs,  of  love,  and  peace,  and 
joy,  now  it  fliall  begin  again  to  be  a  dark  time.  Satan 
fliall  begin  to  fct  up  his  dominion  again  in  the  world. 
This  world  fliall  again  become  a  fcene  of  darknefs  and 
wickednefs.  The  bottomlefs  pit  fliall  be  opened,  de- 
vils fliall  come  up  again  out  of  it,  and  a  dreadful  fmoke 
fliall  afcend  to  darken  the  world.  And  the  church  of 
Chrifl:,  inftead  of  extending  to  the  utmofl:  bounds  of  the 
world,  as  it  did  before,  fliall  be  reduced  to  narrow  limits 
again.  Mankind  being  continued  fo  long  in  a  flate  of 
fuch  great  profpeiity,  will  now  begin  to  abufe  their  prof- 
perity,  to  ferve  their  lufi:  and  corruptions.  [Luke  xvii. 
26,  &c.] 

(2.)  Thofe  apoftates  fliall  make  great  oppofition  to  the 
church  of  God.  The  church  fliall  feem  to  be  eminently 
threatened  with  a  fudden  and  entire  overthrow  by  them. 
It  is  faid  [Rev.  XX.  8,  9.]  Satan  fliall  gather  them  together 
to  battle,  as  the  fand  on  the  fea  fliore  ;   '  and  they  went  up 

*  on  the  breadth  of  the  earth,  and  compafled  the  camp  of 

*  the  faints  about,  and  the  beloved  city.'     So  that  this  be- 
loved city   fliall  feem  juft  ready   to  be  fwallowed  up  by 

3  Y'  theni': 


530         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

them  ;  for  her  enemies  lliall  not  only  threaten  her,  but 
iliall  a6lually  have  gathered  together  againft  her  ;  and  not 
only  lo,  but  fliall  have  befieged  her,  and  (liali  have  com- 
pafTed  her  about  on  every  fide. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  prophecy  which  feems  to  inti- 
mate the  church's  actually  falling  into  their  hands,  as  it  has 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  antichrift,  to  whom  it  was  given  to 
make  war  with  the  faints  and  to  overcome  them.  [Rev. 
xiii.  7.]  God  will  never  fuffer  this  to  be  again  after  the 
fall  of  antichrift  ;  for  then  the  day  of  her  mourning  (hall 
be  ended.  But  the  church  fhall  feem  moft  eminently  threat- 
e:icd  v\'ith  utter  and  fudden  deftru6lion. 

(3.)  Now  the  ftate  of  things  will  fcem  moft  remarka- 
bly to  call  for  Chrift's  iOTOTf<:/i«?^  appearance  to  judgment. 
For  then  the  world  ihall  be  filled  with  the  moft  aggravated 
wickednefs,  much  the  greater  part  of  the  world  fliall  be- 
come open  enemies  to  Chrift,  and  their  wickednefs  will 
be  dreadfully  aggravated  by  their  npoftafy.  Before  the 
fall  of  antichrift,  moft  parts  of  the  world  are  full  of 
wicked  men.  But  the  greater  part  of  thefe  arc  poor 
heathens,  who  never  enjoyed  the  light  of  the  gofpel ;  and 
others  that  have  been  bred  up  in  the  Mahometan  or  Popilli 
darknefs.  But  thefe  are  apoftates  from  the  Chriilian 
church,  and  the  vifible  kingdom  of  Chrift,  in  which  they 
enjoyed  the  great  light  and  privileges  of  the  glorious  times 
of  the  church,  which  lliali  be  incomparably  greater  than 
the  light  and  privileges  which  the  church  of  God  enjoys 
now^.  This  apoftafy  will  be  more  like  that  of  the  fallen 
angels  than  any  that  ever  has  been  ;  for  they  apoftatiied, 
and  turned  enemies  to  Chrift,  though  tliey  enjoyed  the 
light  of  heaven  ;  and  thefe  will  apoftatife,  and  turn  ene- 
mies to  him,  though  they  have  enjoyed  the  light  and  pri- 
vileges of  the  glorious  times  of  the  church.  And  that 
fuch  fhould  turn  open  and  avowed  enemies  to  Chrift,  and 
fhould  fcek  the  ruin  of  his  church,  will  cry  aloud  for  im- 
mediate vengeance. 

The  wickednefs  of  the  world  will  remarkably  call  for 
Chrift's  immediate  appearance  in  flaming  fire  to  take  ven- 
geance on  ihem,  becaufe  of  the  ivay   in  which  they  fhall 

manifeft 


TO  THE  END  OF  THE  WORLD.  531 

manlfon;  their  wickednefs,  which  will  be  by  fcoffiug  ;uk1 
blafphcming  Chrift  and  his  holy  religion:  and  paiticu- 
larlv,  thcv  will  feoff  at  the  notion  of  Chrift's  coming;  to 
judgment,  of  which  the  church  fnall  be  in  expcclaticn, 
and  of  which  they  will  warn  thern.  For  now  doubtlefs 
will  be  another,  and  the  principal  fulfilment  of  that  text. 
[2  Pet.  iii.  3,  4.]  '  Knowing  this  firft,  that  there  Ihall 
'  come  in  the  lafl:  days  fcoffers,  walking  after  their  own 
'  lufts,  and  faying,  Where  is  the  promife  of  his  comin"-  ? 
'  For  fince  the  fathers  fell  afleep,  all  things  continue  as 
'  they  were  from  tlie  beginning  of  the  creation.'  They 
rtiall  be  in  no  expe<5lation  of  the  coming  of  Chrift  to 
judgment,  but  ihali  give  up  themfelves  to  their  lufls,  to 
eat  and  drink,  and  wallow  in  fenfual  delights,  as  though 
they  were  to  be  forever.  They  fliall  defpiie  the  warnings 
the  church  lliall  give  them  of  the  coming  of  Chrift  to 
judgment,  as  the  people  of  the  old  world  defpifed  what 
Noali  told  them  of  the  approaching  flood,  and  as  the  peo- 
ple of  Sodom  did  when  Lot  faid  to  them,  [Gen.  xix.  14.] 
'  The  Lord  will  deftroy  this  city.'  The  wickednefs  will 
alfo  cry  aloud  to  heaven  for  Chrift's  appearing  to  take 
vengeance  of  his  enemies  ;  for  their  attempts  ao-ainft  the 
holy  city  of  God. 

And  the  number  of  the  wicked  is  another  thing 
which  fiiall  efpccially  call  for  Chrift's  coming  :  for  the 
world  will  doubtlefs  then  be  exceeding  full  of  people, 
having  continued  fo  long  in  fo  great  a  ftate  of  profperity, 
without  fuch  defolating  calamities,  as  wars,  peftilences, 
and  the  like,  to  dimini!h  them,  and  the  moil  of  this  po- 
pulous world  will  be  fuch  wicked  contemptuous  apoftate< 
from  God.  And  if  the  wickednefs  of  the  old  world, 
when  men  began  to  multiply  on  the  earth,  called  for  the 
deftrudion  of  the  world  by  a  deluge  of  waters,  this  wick- 
ednefs will  as  much  call  for  its  deftrudlion  by  a  deluge  of 
fire. 

Again,  the  clrcumfiances  of  the  church  at  that  day 
will  alfo  eminently  call  for  the  immediate  appearance  of 
Chrift,  as  they  will  be  compafied  about  by  their  blafphe- 
flious  enemies  and  juft  readv  to  he  fwallowed  up  bv  them. 

c;'Y2  '  It 


532         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

It  will  be  a  moft  diftrefling  time  with  the  church,  except- 
ing tlic  comfort  they  will  have  in  the  hope  of  deliverance 
from  God  :  for  all  other  help  will  feem  to  fail.  The 
cafe  will  be  come  to  the  lafi:  extremity,  and  there  will 
be  an  immediate  neceffity  for  Chrift's  coming  to  their  de- 
liverance. But  though  the  church  fhall  be  fo  eminently 
threatened,  yet  lliall  it  be  preferved  till  Chrlfl  fliall  appear 
in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  all  his  holy  angels.  And 
then  ihall  all  the  eledt  be  gathered  in,  whofe  names  were 
written  in  the  book  of  life  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  fliall  be  brought  in  :  not  one  foul  fhall  be  loft. 
And  the  myftical  body  of  Chrilt  will  be  complete  as  to 
its  number  of  parts,  having  every  one  of  its  members. 
In  this  refpeft,  the  work  of  redemption  will  now  be 
finilhed.  And  the  end  for  which  the  means  of  grace  have 
been  inftitutcd  fhall  be  obtained.  All  that  effe6l  which 
was  intended  to  be  accomplifhed  by  them  fhall  now  be  ac- 
complilhed. 


§  V.  Completion  of  the  work  of  redemption  in 
A  FUTURE  State. 

THUS  I  have  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  re- 
demption has  been  accomplifhed  during  the  -continuance 
of  the  Chrlftian  church  under  the  means  of  grace.  We 
have  feen  what  great  revolutions  there  have  been,  and 
are  to  be  during  this  fpace  of  time  ;  how  the  wheels  of 
Providence  have  gone  round  for  the  accomplifliment  of  the 
fuccefs  of  ChrilFs  purchafe,  in  the  beftowment  of  grace 
on  the  ele6l :  and  we  are  now  come  to  the  time,  when  the 
courfe  of  things  in  this  ftate  of  it  is  finiflied,  and  all  things 
are  ripe  for  Chrift's  coming  to  judgment. 

You  may  remember,  that  we  are  dlfcourfing  on  this 
propofition,  viz.  That  from  the  refurrcdtlon  of  Chrlft  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  the  whole  time  is  taken  up  in  pro- 
curing the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  of  redemption,  and 
1  obferve  that  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  is  of  two 
kinds,    conftfting  either  in  grace  or  glory  ;    and  that  the 

f\iccef5 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.       533 

fuccefs  confifting  in  the  former  of  thcfe,  is  to  be  feen  in 
thofc  works  of  God  which  are  wrought  during  thofe  ages 
that  the  church  is  continued  under  the  means  of  grace  ;  and 
that  the  fuccefs,  confirting  in  the  latter,  will  chiefly  beac- 
compliibed  at  the  day  of  judgment. 

Having  already  fliown  how  the  former  kind  of  fuccefs 
has  been  accomplillied,  I  come  now  to  that  kind  of  fuc- 
cefs wiiich  is  accompliihed  in  the  beftowmcnt  of  glory  on 
the  church,  which  fhall  chiefly  be  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment.—And  here  I  would  mention  two  or  three  things 
in  general  concerning  this  kind  of  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  pur- 
chafe. 

(i.)  How  great  this  is,  chiefly  appears  in  that  the  fuccefs 
of  Chrifli's  purchafe  does  fummarily  confift  in  the fahation 
of  the  ele£t.  But  this  beftowment  of  glory  is  eminently 
called  iht'n  falvatioti :  [Heb.  ix.  28.]  '  To  them  tliat  look 
'  for  him,  ihall  he  appear  the  fecond  time,  without  fin 
'  unto  falvation.'— So  it  is  called  redemption.  [Eph.iv.30.] 
'  Sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption;'  [Eph.  i.  14.] 
'   Redemption  of  the  purchafed  poffeflion.' 

(2.)  All  thofe  glorious  things  which  were  brought  to 
pafs  for  the  church  while  under  the  means  of  grace,  are 
but  preparatory  to,  and  images  and  fliadows  of  this.  The- 
means  of  grace  and  grace  itfelf  are  to  fit  for  glory  and  all 
the  glorious  things  which  were  accompli flied  for  the  church 
in  the  days  of  Conftantine,  and  which  arc  to  fucceed  the 
fall  of  antichrift,  are  but  a  Ihadow  of  what  will  be  beftowed 
at  the  day  of  judgment ;  and  therefore,  are  fpoken  of  in 
fcripture  as  images  of  Chrift's  lall;  coming  to  judgment. 
—-But  I  haftcn  more  particularly  to  fhow  how  this  kind  of 
fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  is  accomplifhed. 

I.  Chr'iji  will  appear  in  the  glory  of  his  Father,  with  all 
his  holy  angels  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven.  When 
the  world  is  revelling  in  their  wickcdnefs,  and  compaflTing 
the  holy  city  about,  juft  ready  to  deftroy  it,  then  fhall  tlie 
glorious  Redeemer  appear  in  the  fight  of  the  world ;  the 
light  of  his  glory  Ihall  break  forth;  the  whole  world  ihall 
immediately  have  notice  of  it,  and  they  fhall  lift  up  their 
eyes  and  behold  this  wonderful  fight.     It  is  faid  [Rev.  i.  7.] 

'   Everv 


534        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

*  Every  eye  Ihall  fee  him.'---Chnfl:  ihall  appear  in  his  hu- 
man nature,  in  that  fame  body  which  was  brought  forth  in 
a  ftable,  laid  in  a  manger,  and  which  afterwards  was  fo 
cruelly  ufed,  and  nailed  to  the  crofs. 

Men  fliall  now  lift  up  their  eyes  and  behold  him  com- 
ing in  fuch  majefly  and  glory  as  is  to  us  utterly  inconceiv- 
able. The  glory  of  the  fun  in  a  clear  firmament  will  be 
but  darknefs  in  comparifon  of  it ;  and  all  the  glorious  an- 
gels f[iair  attend  on  him,  a  thoufand  thoufand  miniflering 
to  him,  and  ten  thoufand  times  ten  thoufand  round  about 
him.  How  different  a  perfon  W'ill  he  then  appear  from 
what  he  did  at  his  iirll:  coming,  when  he  was  as  a  root  out 
of  dry  ground,  a  poor,  dcfpifed,  affli6ted  man !  How 
different  now  is  his  appearance,  in  the  midft  of  thofe  glo- 
rious angels,  principalities,  and  powers,  from  what  it  was 
when  in  tlie  midfl:  of  a  ring  of  foldiers,  with  his  mock 
robe  and  his  crown  of  thorns,  to  be  buffetted  and  fpit 
upon,  or  hanging  on  the  crofs  between  two  thieves,  with  a 
multitude  of  his  enemies  round  about  triumphing  over 
him  !   (d) 

This 

(d)    Chrljl  APPEARING  in  the  Clouds.'] 

"  Thence  iffuing  I  behold  (but  mortal  fight 
Suftains  not  fuch  a  rufliing  fea  of  light) 
I  fee  on  an  empyreal  flying  throne, 
Awfully  rais'd,  heav'n's  everlafting  Son  ; 
Crown'd  with  that  majefty  which  form'd  the  world, 
And  the  grand  rebel  flaming  downward  hurl'd. 
Virtue,  dominion,  praife,  omnipotence. 
Support  the  train  of  their  triumphant  prince. 
A  zone,  beyond  the  thought  of  angels  bright, 
Around  him,  like  the  zodiac,  winds  its  light. 
Night  fliades  the  folemn  arches  of  his  brows, 
And  in  his  cheek  the  purple  morning  glows. 
Where'er  ferene  he  turns  propitious  eyes, 
Or  we  expeft,  or  find  a  paiadife  ; 
But  if  refentment  reddens  their  mild  beams, 
The  Eden  kindles,  and  the  world's  in  flames, 
On  one  hand  knowledge  fliincs  in  .pureft  light, 
'  On  one  the  fword  of  juftice  fiercely  bright. 
Now  bend  the  knee  in  fport,  prefeat  the  reed, 
Now  tell  the  fcourg'd  impoftor  he  fnall  bleed  i" 

»? • 

"  Triumphant 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.  ss> 
This  will  be  a  moft  unexpe^led  fight  to  the  wicked 
world:  it  will  come  as  a  cry  at  midnight :  they  fhall  be 
taken  in  the  midfl:  of  their  wickednefs,  and  it  will  give 
them  a  dreadful  alarm.  It  will  at  once  break  up  their  re- 
vels and  caroufing.  It  will  put  an  end  to  the  defign  of 
the  great  army,  that  will  then  be  compafTmg  the  camp  of 
the  laints :  it  will  make  them  let  drop  their  weapons  out 
of  their  hands.  The  world,  which  will  then  be  very 
full  of  people,  molt  of  whom  will  be  wicked  men, 
will  then  be  filled  with  dolorous  flirieking  and  crying; 
for  all  the  kindreds  of  the  earth  fiiall  wail  becaufe  of  him. 
[Rev.  i.  7.]  And  where  fliallthey  hide  themfelves?  How 
will  the  fight  of  that  awful  majefiy  terrify  them  ?  Then 
they  fhall  fee  whom  they  have  mocked  and  fcofFed  at,  and 
whole  church  they  have  been  endeavouring  to  overthrow. 

This 

"  Triumphant  King  of  glory  !   foul  of  blifs ! 
What  a  ftupendous  turn  of  fate  is  this ! 
O  !   whither  art  thou  rais'd  above  the  fcorn 
And  indigence  of  him  in  Bethlem  born, 
A  needy,  helplefs,  unaccounted  gueft. 
And  but  a  fecond  to  the  fodder'd  beall ! 
How  chang'd  from  him,  who  meekly  proftratc  laid, 
VouchfaPd  to  wafh  the  feet  himfelf  had  made  ! 
From  him  who  was  betray'd,  forfook,  deny'd, 
Wept,  languifli'd,  pray'd,  bled,  thiriled,  groan'd  and  dy'd ; 
Hung  pierc'd  and  bare,  infulted  by  the  foe, 
All  heav'n  in  tears  above,  earth  unconcera'd  below  ! 

"  Now  the  dcfcending  triumph  flops  its  flight, 
From  earth  full  twice  a  planetary  heio-ht. 
There  all  the  clouds,  condcns'd,  two  columns  raifc 
Diftindl  with  orient  veins  and  golden  blaze. 
Onefix'don  earth,  and  one  on  fea,  and  round 
Its  ample  foot  the  fwellliig  billows  found. 
Thefe  an  Immeafurable  arch  fupport. 
The  grand  tribunal  of  this  awful  court. 
Sheets  of  bright  azure,  from  the  pured  flcy. 
Stream  from  the  chryllal  arch,  and  round  the  columns  fly. 
Death  wrapt  In  chains  low  at  the  bafislles, 
And  on  the  point  of  his  own  arrow  dies. 

"  Here  high  cnthron'd  th'  eternal  judge  Is  plac'd, 
With  all  the  grandeur  of  his  Godhead  grac'd; 
Stars  on  his  robes  in  beauteous  order  meet. 
And  the  fun  burns  beneath  his  dreadful  feet." 

[Young's  Laft  Day,  book  ii. ] 


S$6        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

This  fight  will  change  the  voice  of  their  laughter  and  fmrr- 
ing  into  dreadful  wailing.  Their  countenance  fliall  her 
changed  from  a  Hiow  of  carnal  mirth,  pride  and  contempt, 
to  ghaftly  teiro]-,  trembling,  and  amazement. 

But  with  refpe^l  to  the  faints,  the  church  of  Chrift,  it 
fliall  be  a  joyful  and  moft  glorious  fight  to  them  ;  for  it 
will  at  once  deliver  them  from  all  fear  of  their  enemies, 
who  were  before  compalTing  them  about,  jufl:  ready  to 
fwallow  them  up.  Then  ihall  they  lift  up  their  heads, 
and  their  redemption  Ihall  be  drawing  nigh.  [Luke  xxi. 
28.]— And  thus  Chrift  will  appear  with  infinite  majefty, 
and  at  the  fame  time  with  infinite  love  in  his  counte- 
nance. Their  countenances  alfo  fliall  be  changed,  not 
as  the  countenances  of  the  wicked,  but  from  forrow 
to  exceeding  joy  and  triumph.  And  now  the  work  of 
redemption  will  be  finiflied  in  another  fenfe,  viz.  that 
the  whole  church  Ihall  be  completely  and  eternally  freed 
from  all  perfecution  and  moleftation  from  wicked  men  and 
devils. 

2.  The  Iq/i  trumpet  fliall  fmnd  and  the  dead  fliall  be 
raifed,  and  the  living  changed.  God  fent  forth  his  angels 
with  a  great  found  of  a  trumpet,  to  gather  together  his 
ele6l  from  the  four  corners  of  the  earth  in  a  myftical  fenfc, 
before  the  deftru6lion  of  Jerufalem  ;  i.  e.  he  fent  forth 
the  apoftles,  and  others,  to  preach  the  gofpel  all  over  the 
world.  And  fo,  in  a  myftical  fenfe,  the  great  trumpet 
was  blown  at  the  beginning  of  the  glorious  times  of  the 
church.  But  now  the  great  trumpet  is  blown  in  a  more 
literal  fenfe,  with  a  mighty  found,  which  fliakes  the 
earth.  There  will  be  a  great  fignal  given  by  a  mighty 
found  made,  which  is  called  t/ie  voice  of  the  archangel^ 
[i  Thef  iv.  16.]  ^  For  the  Lord  himfclf  fliall  dcfcend 
'  from  heaven  with  a  fliout,  with  the  voice  of  the  arch- 
'  angel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God.'  On  the  found  of 
this  trumpet,  the  dead  fliall  be  raifed  every  where.  Now 
the  number  of  the  dead  is  very  great.  How  many  has 
death  cut  down  fince  the  world  lias  flood.  But  then  the 
number  will  be  much  greater  after  the  world  fliall  have 
flood  fo  much  longer,  and  through  moft  of  the  remaining 

time 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.    537 

time  will  doubtlefs  be  much  fuller  of  inhabitants  than  ever 
it  has  been.  All  thefe  iliall  now  rife  from  the  dead.  The 
graves  lliall  be  opened  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  the 
fea  fhall  give  up  the  innumerable  dead  that  arc  in  it.  [Rev. 
XX.  13.]    (E) 

And  now  all  the  inhabitants  that  ever  fliail  have  been 
upon   the  face  of  the  earth,  from  the  beginning   of  the 

3  Z  world 

(e)  The  TKVfAfZT JJjall found !'\  "  How  alarming,  how  ftupen- 
dous  the  fummons  !  Nothing  equal  to  it,  nothing  like  it,  was  ever 
heard  through  all  the  regions  of  the  univerfe,  or  all  the  revolutions 
of  time.  When  confli6ting  armies  have  difcharged  the  bellowing 
artillery  of  war,  or  when  viftorious  armies  have  fhouted  for  joy  of 
the  conqueft,  the  feas  and  fhorcs  have  rung,  the  mountains  and 
plains  have  echoed.  Bat  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  the 
trump  of  God,  will  refound  from  pole  to  pole.  It  will  fhake  the 
pillars  of  earth,  and  ftartle  the  dungeon  of  hell. — Stronger,  ftron- 
ger  ftill  !  it  will  penetrate  even  the  deepelt  recefies  of  the  tomb. 
It  will  pour  its  amazing  thunder  into  all  thofe  abodes  of  filence. 
The  dead,  the  very  dead  fiiall  hear. 

*'  When  the  trumpet  has  founded,  *the  dead  fliall  arife.' — In 
a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  graves  open;  the  mo- 
numental piles  are  cleft  afunder ;  the  families,  the  nations  under 
ground,  ftart  into  day.  What  an  immenfe  harveft  of  men  and  wo- 
men, fpringing  up  from  the  caverns  of  the  earth,  and  the  depths 
of  the  fea  !  Stand  awhile,  my  foul,  and  contemplate  the  wonderful 
fpeclacle. — Adam  formed  in  Paradife,  and  the  babe  born  but  yef- 
terday,  the  carliell  ages,  and  lateft  generations,  meet  upon  the 
fame  level. — Jews  and  Gentiles,  Greeks  and  Barbarians,  people  of 
all  climes  and  languages,  unite  in  the  promifcuous  throng.  Here, 
thofe  vaft  armies,  which,  like  fwarms  of  locufts,  covered  coun- 
tries; which,  with  an  irrefiltible  fweep,  over-run  empires  ;  here 
they  all  appear,  and  here  they  all  are  loft.  Loft,  like  tlie  fmall 
drop  of  a  bucket,  when  plunged  amidft  the  unfathomable  and 
boundlefs  ocean. — O  !  the  imultitudes  !  the  multitudes  !  which 
thefe  eyes  fliall  furvey,  when  God  '  calleth  the  heavens  frora  above, 
'  and  the  earth  that  he  may  judge  his  people.'  What  ftiame  muft 
flufti  the  guilty  cheek  !  W^hat  anguiOi  wound  the  polluted  breaft  ; 
to  have  all  their  filthy  prattlces,  and  infamous  tempers,  expofed 
before  this  innumerable  croud  of  witneffes  ! — '. —  Flv,  my  foul; 
iaftantly  let  us  fly,  earneftly  let  us  flvj  to  the  purifying  blood  of 
Jefus.  That  all  our  fins  may  be  blotted  out ;  that  we  may  be 
found  unblameable  and  unreproveablc,  in  the  prcfence  of  the 
aflembled  world;  and,  what  is  infinitely  more  to  be  itvered,  in 
the  fight  of  the  omnipotent  God.  [Hervey,  Ther.  and  Afp. 
Tol.  ii.  Let.  5.] 


538        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

world  to  the  end  fhall  aj3pear  upon  the  earth  at  once.  The 
church  of  God  in  all  ages,  Adam  and  Eve  the  firft  pa- 
rents of  mankind,  and  Abel,  Seth,  Methufelah,  and  all 
the  faints  who  were  their  contemporaries ;  Noah,  and 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  the  prophets,  and  all  the  Old 
Teftament  faints,  the  holy  apoftlcs  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  all 
the  faints  of  their  times ;  the  martyrs  under  the  ten  hea- 
then perfecutions ;  all  who  belonged  to  the  church  during 
the  dark  days  of  antichrifl,  all  the  holy  martyrs  who  have 
fufFered  under  the  cruelty  of  the  Popifli  perfecutions ;  all 
the  faints  of  the  prefent  time ;  and   all  that  fhall  be  from 

hence  to  the  end  of  the  world. Now  alfo  the  enemies 

of  the  church  in  all  ages  of  the  world  Ihall  appear  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth  again ;  the  wicked  drowned  by  the 
flood,  and  the  multitudes  of  impenitent  finners  that  died 
all  over  the  world  among  God's  profefling  people,  or  others 
before  Chrift,  and  all  wicked  Heathens,  Jews,  Mahome- 
tans, and  Papifts,  that  have  died  fince;  all  fliall  come 
together.  Sinners  of  all  forts;  demure  hypocrites;  thofe 
who  have  tlie  faireft  and  befl  outfide,  and  open  profane 
drunkards,  whoremongers,  profane  Deifts,  cruel  perfecu- 
tors,  and  all  that  have  died,  or  fliall  die,  iii  fni,  to  the  end 
of  the  world. 

And  at  the  fan:ie  time  that  the  dead  are  raifed,  the  living 
ihall  be  changed.  The  bodies  of  the  wicked  who  fliall 
then  be  living,  fliall  be  fo  changed  as  to  fit  them  for  eter- 
nal exiftencc  without  corruption;  and  the  bodies  of  all  the 
living  faints  fliall  be  changed  to  be  like  Chrift's  glorious 
body;  [i  Cor.  XV.  51,  52,  53.]  fo  changed  as  to  render 
them  for  ever  incapable  of  pain,  afflitlion,  or  uneafinefs; 
and  all  that  duUnefsj  heavinefs,  and  deformity,  which  their 
bodies  had  before,  fliall  be  put  off;  and  tliey  fliall  put  on 
Arength,  and  beauty,  and  aclivity,  and  incorruptible  un- 
fading glory.  And  now  the  work  of  redemption  fliall  be 
finifhed  in  this  refpeft,  viz.  that  all  the  elett  fliall  be  ac- 
tually redeemed  in  both  foul  and  body.  Before  this,  the 
work  of  redemption,  as  to  its  a6lual  fuccefs,  was  but  in- 
complete ;  for  only  the  fouls  of  the  redeemed  were  a6lualiy 
faved  and  glorified,  excepting  in  a  very  few  inftances :  but 

now 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.        539 

now  all  the  bodies  of  the  faints  rtiall  be  faved  and  glorified 
together,   both  in  foul  and  body,  (f) 

3.  Now  fhall  faints  be  caught  up  in  tlic  clouds  to  meet 
the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  all  wicked  men  and  devils  fliall 
be  arraigned  before  the  judgment-feat.  When  the  dead 
faints  are  raifed,  tlien  the  whole  church,  confifting  of  all 

the 

(f)  The  general  Resurrection.]  The  xvth  chap,  of  St.  Paul's 
firft  cpiftle  to  the  Corinthians  is  a  kind  of  treatife  on  this  fubjcft, 
which  ought  in  the  firfl:  place  to  be  confulted,  as  being  the  lan- 
guage of  divine  infpiration.  Next  to  the  fcriptures  is  commonly 
ranked  an  excellent  epilllc  to  the  fame  Corinthian  church  by  St. 
Clement  of  Rome  [mentioned  as  is  fuppofed  Phil.  iv.  3.]  writ- 
ten is  feems  before  the  dcllruAion  of  Jerufalem.  [Seech,  xli.]  In 
that  epiftle  is  the  following  paflage,  remarkably  coincident  with 
the  language  of  St.  Paul,  on  this  jubjeft  : 

"  Let  that  be  far  from  us  which  is  written,  '  Miferable  are  the 

*  double-minded,  and  thofe  who  are  doubtful  in  tlieir  hearts.    Who 

*  fay,  thefe  things  have  we  heard,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us 

*  thefe  things.     But  behold  we  are  grown  old,  and  none  of  them 

*  has  happened  unto  us.'  O  ye  fools!  Confider  the  trees;  take 
the  vine  for  an  example:  firft  it  flieds  its  leaves;  then  it  buds;  after 
that  it  fpreads  its  leaves;  then  it  flowers;  then  come  the  four 
grapes;  and  after  them  follows  the  ripe  fruit.  You  fee  how  in  a 
little  time  the  fruit  of  the  trees  come  to  maturity.  Of  a  truth, 
yet  a  little  while,  and  his  will  fiiall  fudJenly  be  accompliflied. 
The  holy   fcripture  itfelf  bearing  witnefs,  '  that  he  (liall  quickly 

*  come  and  not  tarry,  and  that  the  Lord   fhall  fuddenly  come  to 

*  his  temple,  even  the  holy  one  whom  ye  look  for.'  Let  us  con- 
fider, beloved,  how  the  Lord  does  continually  (hew  us,  that  there 
fhall  be  a  future  refurreftion  ;  of  which  he  has  made  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrifl  the  firft-fruits,  raifing  him  from  the  dead.  Let  us 
contemplate,  beloved,  the  refurredion  that  is  continually  before 
our  eyes..  Day  and  night  manifeft  a  refurrei^lion  to  us.  The 
night  lies  down,  and  the  day  arifes  :  again  the  day  departs  and  the 
night  comes  on.  Let  us  behold  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  Every 
one  fees  how  the  feed  is  fown.  The  fower  goes  forth,  and  cafts  it 
upon  the  earth;  and  the  feed  which  when  it  was  fown  fell  upon 
the  earth  dry  and  uakcd,  in  time  diffolvcs  :  and  from  the  diffolu- 
tion,  the  great  power  of  the  providence  of  the  Lord  raifes  it  again ; 
and  of  one  feed  many  arife,  and  bring  forth  fruit."  \_Clemcnt's  ifl 
«pift.  Abp.  Wake's  Tranf  feft.  23,  24.] 

From  this  paffage,  but  efpecially  St.  Paul's  epiftle,  in  the  chap- 
ter above  referred  to,  we  may  venture  to  determine  that  contro- 
verted point,  how  far  the  bodies  of  the  faints  will  be  xXxcfav-.e  when 
raifed  from  the  dead,  namely,  juft  as  the  com  which  fprings  up  in 
3  Z  2  the 


540        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

the  elect  through  all  ages,  fliall  appear  together  on  the  face 
of  the  earth,  (excepting  thofe  few  whofe  bodies  were  glo- 
rified before;)  and  fhall  afcend  to  meet  Chrift,  who  fhall 
fix  his  tlironc  in  the  air,  whence  he  may  be  feen  by  all 
that  vafl  multitude  that  fhall  be  gathered  before  him.  The 
church  of  faints  therefore  fhall  be  taken  up  from  the  earth 
to  afcend  to  their  Saviour.  Thus  the  apoftle  tells  us,  that 
when  the  dead  '  in  Chrifl:  are  raifed,  and  the  living  chang- 

*  ed,  then  thofe  who  are  alive  and  remain,  fhall  be  caught 

*  up  together  with  them  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  fo 

*  lliall  we  be  ever  with  the  Lord.'  [i  Thef.  iv,  i6,  17.] 
Then  fhall  the  work  of  redemption  be  finifhed  in  another 
Tefpe6l :  then  fhall  the  whole  church  be  perfectly  and  for 
ever  delivered  from  this  evil  world  :  they  fliall  take  their 
everlafting  leave  of  this  earth,  where  they  have  been  llran- 
gers,  and  which  has  been  to  them  a  fcene  of  trouble  and 
forrow  ;  where  the  devil  for  the  moll  part  has  reigned  a§ 
god,  and  has  greatly  molefted  them ;  where  Chrift  their 
Lord  has  been  crucified ;  and  where  they  haye  been  fo 
hated,  reproached,  and  perfecuted,  from  age  to  age.  And 
there  ihallbe  an  everlafting  feparation  made  between  them 
and  wicked  men.  Before  they  were  mixed  together,  and 
it  was  impoflible  in  many  inftances  to  determine  which 
were  which  ;  but  now  both  faints  and  finners  fliall  appear 
in  their  true  chara6lers. 

What  an  immenfe  cloud  of  them  will  there  be  when 
all  the  church  fliall  be  gathered  together  from  the  eaft 
and  weft,  north  and   fouth,  to   the  right  hand  of  Chrift. 

---Then 

the  harvcft,  is  the  fame  which  the  hufbandman  previoufly  fovvs; 
not  indeed  the  bare  grain  which  was  call  into  the  ground,  but 
wonderfully  increafed  and  improved.  [See  i  Cor.  xv.]  So  doubt- 
lefii  the  bodies  raifed  v/ill  be  ejfenlially  (not  to  quibble  on  the  word 
individually)  the  fame  as  die  ;  but  no  lefs  wonderfully  improves 
than  the  blade  and  ear  of  corn  from  a  fingle  grain.  The  manner 
of  this  we  may  not  be  able  to  comprehend  at  prefent;  but  we  may 
furcly  believe  the  faft  on  the  credit  of  immutable  omnipotence. — 
From  an  expreflion  of  St.  Paul,  [i  Thef.  iv.   16.]  that  '  the  dead 

*  in  Chriit  ihall  rifejifr/?,'  fome  divines  have  inferred  a  twofold  re- 
funedtion,  firil  of  the  righteous  and  afterwards  of  the  wicked,  but 
this  text  only  alferts,  that  the  dead  fhall  be  raifed  before  the  living 
are  changed,  as  appears  from  the  following  verfe.  [G.  E.] 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.    541 

---Then  the  work  of  redemption  will  be  finiihed  in  this 
refpe6t  alfo.  Tliey  all  belonged  to  one  fociety  before,  but 
yet  were  widely  fepar:Ued  from  each  other;  fome  being  in 
heaven,  and  fome  on  earth ;  and  thofe  on  earth  were  fepa- 
rated  one  from  another,  many  of  them  by  wide  oceans  and 
vaft  continents.  But  now  they  fliall  all  be  gathered  to- 
gether, never  to  be  feparated  any  more.  And  not  only 
gathered  together,  but  gatliered  unto  their  Head,  into  his 
immediate  glorious  prefence,  never  to  be  feparated  from 
him  any  more. 

At  the  fame  time,  all  wicked  -men  and  devils  Ihall  be 
brought  before  the  judgment-fent  of  Chrifl.  Thefe  fliall 
be  gathered  to  his  left  hand,  and,  as  it  feems,  will  flill  re- 
main upon  the  earth,  and  not  be  caught  up  into  the  air,  as 
the  faints  fliall.  Satan,  that  old  ferpent,  who  firft  procured 
the  fall  and  mifcry  of  mankind,  and  has  all  along  iliown 
himfclf  fucli  an  inveterate  enemy  to  the  Redeemer,  fhall 
never  more  have  any  thing  to  do  with  the  church  of  God, 
or  be  fuffered  in  the  leaft  to  afFii6l  any  member  of  it  any 
more  for  ever;  but  Ihall  now  be  judged,  and  receive  the 
due  reward  of  his  deeds.  Now  is  come  the  time  which 
he  long  has  dreaded,  and  trembled  at  the  thought  of;  the 
time  wherein  he  mud  be  judged,  and  receive  his  full  pu- 
niflimcnt.  He  who  by  his  temptation  malicioufly  pro- 
cured Chrift's  crucifixion,  and  triumphed  upon  it,  as 
though  he  had  obtained  the  victory,  even  he  fhall  fee  tlie 
confequences  of  the  death  of  Chrift  which  he  procured  : 
for  Chrifl's  coming  to  judge  him  in  his  human  nature  is 
the  confequence  of  it;  becaufe  he  obtained  and  purcliafed 
this  glory  to  himfelf  by  that  deatli.  Now  he  mull:  fiand 
before  that  fame  Jefus  whofe  death  he  procured,  to  be 
judged,  condemned,  and  eternally  deflroved  by  him.  If 
Satan,  the  prince  of  hc!l,  trembles  at  the  thought  of  it 
tiioufands  of  years  beforehand,  how  much  more  v/ill  he 
tremble,  as  proud  and  as  flubborn  as  he  is,  when  he  comes 
to  Hand  at  Chrifl's  bar !  Then  fliall  he  alfo  ftand  at  ilie 
bar  of  the  faints,  whom  he  lias  fo  hated,  afflidled,  and  mo- 
lefted  :  for  the  faints  fliall  judge  him  together  with  Chrill: 
[i  Cor.  vi,  3.]  '  Know  ve  not  that  we  fliall  judge  angels!' 

Now 


542        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

Now  fliall  he  be  as  it  were  fubdued  under  the  chuich's 
feet.  [Rom.  xvi.  20.]  Satan,  when  he  tempted  our  firft 
parents  to  fall,  deceitfully  and  falfely  told  them,  that  they 
fliould  be  as  gods  :  but  little  did  he  think  that  the  confe- 
quence  fhould  be,  that  they  fhould  indeed  be  fo  much  like 
gods,  as  to  be  afleffors  with  God  to  judge  him.  (g)  Much 
lefs  did  he  think,  that  in  confequence  of  this  one  of  the 
pofterity  of  thofe  perfons  whom  he  tempted,  fhould  actu- 
ally be  united  to  God,  fliould  judge  the  world,  and  that 
he  himfelf  muft  ftand  trembling  and  aftonifhed  before  his 
judgment-feat.  And  all  the  infernal  fpirits  -who  have  fo 
oppofed  Chrift:  and  his  kingdom,  fliall  now  at  laft  {land  in 
the  utmoft  amazement  and  horror  before  Chrift  and  his 
church,  who  fhall  appear  to  condemn  them. 

Now  alfo  fliall  Chrift's  other  enemies  be  brought  to 
appear  before  him.  Now  fhall  the  proud  fcribes  and  Pha- 
rifees,  who  had  fuch  a  malignant  hatred  againft  him  while 
in  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  and  who  perfecuted  Chrift 
to  death ;  thofe  before  whofe  judgment-feat  Chrift  was 
once  called,  and  ftood  as  a  malefactor  at  their  bar,  and 
thofe  who  mocked  him,  and  buftetted  him,  and  fpit  in 
his  face  ;  now  fhall  they  fee  Chrift  in  his  glory,  as  he 
forewarned  them,  [Matt.  xxvi.  64,  65.]  when  he  was 
before  their  judgment-feat;  but  now  they  fhall  ftand 
before  his  judgment-feat  with  inconceivable  horror  and 
amazement. 

Now  alfo  all  the  cruel  enemies  and  perfccutors  of  the 
church  that  have  been  in  all  ages,  fliall  come  in  fight 
together,  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians,  Antiochus  Epi- 
phanes,    the   perfecuting   fcribes   and    Pharifees,   the   per- 

fecuting 

(g)  The  faints Jhall  judge  the  fallen  y^/Tf.-'/f.]  "There  feems 
a  peculiar  dignity  and  propriety  in  this  determination  of  the  great 
God,  that  when  the  Devils  who  are  exprefsly  faid  to  be  '  referved 
'  in  chains  of  darknefs  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  day,'  [Jude 
6.]  fliall  be  condemned,  \\\t  faints  being  raifed  to  the  feats  of  glory 
which  thefe  wicked  fpirits  have  forfeited  and  lofl,  fliould  aftill  in 
that  fentence  which  fnall  difplay  the  vijTtory  of  Chrift  over  them 
in  his  fervants,  once  their  captives,  and  will  no  doubt  render  the 
fentence  itfelfyet  more  intolerable  to  creatures  of  fuch  malignity 
and  pride."     [Doddridge,  on  i  Cor.  vi.  3.] 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.        543 

feCuting  heathen  emperors,  Juh'an  the  apoitate,  the  cruel 
perfecuting  Popes  and  Papifts,  Gog  and  Magog,  fliall  all 
appear  at  once  before  the  judgment-feat  of  Chrift.  They 
and  the  faints  who  have  in  every  age  been  perfccuted  by 
them,  muft  confront  one  another  before  the  great  Judge. 
And  now  fl^all  the  faints  on  their  glorious  thrones  be  made 
the  judges  of  thofe  unjuft  kings  and  rulers,  who  have  be- 
fore judged  and  condemned  them  to  deatli.  Now  lliall 
thofe  perfecutors  behold  the  glory  to  which  they  are  ar- 
rived, whom  they  before  fo  defpifed  and  cruelly  treated, 
and  Chrift  will  make  thofe  holy  martyrs  as  it  were  to  come 
and  fet  their  feet  on  the  necks  of  their  perfecutors;  they 
lliall  be  made  their  footftool,  [See  Jolh.  x.  24.]  Thus 
wonderfully  will  the  face  of  things  be  altered  from  what  it 
ufed  to  be  in  the  former  times  of  the  world;  now  will  all 
thino;s  be  coming  to  rights. 

4.  The  rlghteoufnefs  of  the  church  fliall  be  manifefted, 
and  all  the  wickedncfs  of  their  enemies  fliall  be  brought  to 
liglit.  Thofe  faints  who  had  been  the  objeils  of  hatred, 
reproach  and  contempt  in  the  world,  and  were  reviled  and 
condemned  by  their  perfecutors  without  a  caufe,  lliall  now 
be  fully  vindicated.  They  fliall  now  appear  cloathed  with 
the  glorious  robe  of  Chrift's  righteoufnefs.  And  their  in- 
herent holinefs  fhall  alfo  be  made  manifeft,  and  all  their 
good  works  brought  to  light.  The  good  things  which  they 
did  in  fecret  ihall  now  be  manifefted  openly.  Thofe  holy 
ones  of  God,  who  had  been  treated  as  though  they  were 
the  tilth  and  ofFscouring  of  the  earth,  as  though  thev  were 
not  fit  to  live  upon  earth,  fliall  now  appear  to  have  been 
the  excellent  of  the  earth.  Now  God  will  bring  forth 
their  righteoufnefs  as  the  light,  and  their  judgment  as  the 
noon-day.  And  now  fliall  it  be  feen  who  were  thofe  that 
were  not  fit  to  live,  when  all  the  wickednefs  of  the  ene- 
mies of  Chrift  and  his  church,  their  pride,  their  malice, 
their  cruelty,  their  hatred  of  true  religion,  fhall  be  fet 
forth  in  its  true  light.  And  now  all  the  wickednefs  of  the 
whole  world  ftiall  be  fully  difcovered,  their  very  hearts 
opened  to  view;  and  things  that  have  been  fpoken  in  the 
ear,  in  the  clofet,  and  done  in  the  dark,  fliall  be  manifefted 


544        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

in  the  light,  and  proclaimed  before  angels  and  men.  [Luke 
xii.  3.] 

5.  Sentence  lliall  be  pronounced  both  on  the  righteous 
and  the  wicked.  C^irift,  the  judge,  fhall  pafs  that  fen- 
tence  on  the  church  at  his  right  hand,  '  Come,   ye  blefled 

*  of  my   Father,  inherit   the   kingdom   prepared   for  you 

*  from  tlie  foundation  of  the  world.'  [Matt.  xxv.  34.] 
This  lliall  be  pronounced  with  infinite  love,  and  the 
voice  will  make  every  heart  to  overflow  with  joy.  Thus 
Chrill;  fliall  pronounce  a  fentence  of  juftification  on  thou- 
fands  and  millions,  who  have  before  had  a  fentence  of 
condemnation  pafTed  upon  them  by  their  perfecutors.  He 
will  thus  put  honour  upon  thofc  who  have  been  before 
defpifcd  :  he  will  own  them  for  his,  and  will  as  it  were 
put  a  crown  of  glory  upon  their  heads  before  the  world ; 
and  then  fhall  they  Ihine  forth  as  the  fun  with  Jefus  Chrifl: 
in  glory  and  joy,   in  the  fight  of  all  their  enemies,  (h) 

And  then  Ihall  the  fentence  of  condemnation  be  pafied 
on  the  wicked,  '  Depart,  ye  curfed,  into  everlafting  fire, 
'  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.'  [Matt.]  Thus 
ihall  the  church's  enemies  be  condemned  ;  in  which  fen- 
tence of  condemnation,  the  holy  martyrs,  who  have  fuf- 
fered  from  them,  ihall   concur,   (i)       When  the  words  of 

this 

(h)  Chr'i/l  ^jj'iU  put  HONOUR  upon  Ins  faints.'}  How  beautiful 
and  pointed  is  that  pafiage  in  the  apoeryphal  book  of  Wifdom, 
which  reprefents  the  wicked  at  the  laft  day,  thus  bewailing  their 
folly  and  contempt  of  the  faints:   '  Then  fliallthc  righteous  man 

*  ftand  in  great  boldnefs  before  the  face  of  fuch  as  have  afflidted 

*  him,  and  made  no  account   of  his  labours.     When  they  fee  it, 

*  they  fliall  be  troubled  with  terrible  fear,  and  fhall  be  amazed  at 

*  the  ftrangenefs  of  his  falvation,  fo  far  beyond  all  that  they  looked 
'  for.     And  they,  repenting  and  groaning  for  anguilli  of  fpirit, 

*  fhall  fay  within  themfelvcs/  "  This  was  he  whom  we  had  fome- 
"  times  in  derifion,  and  a  proverb  of  reproach.  We  fools  ac- 
"  counted  his  life  madnefs,  and  his  end  to  be  without  honour. — 
"  How  is  he  numbered  among  the  children  of  God,  and  his  lot  is 
«  among  the  faints!"      [Wild.  v.  i — 5.] 

(i)  Depart,  je  airfecl.~\  "  Oh  !  let  me  never  hear  thy  voice 
pronounce  thofe  dreadful  words.  With  what  terrors  would  that 
fentence  pierce  my  heart,  while  ir  thunders  in  my  ears  !    To  be 

feparatcd 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.       545 

this  fentence  are  pronounced,  every  fyllable  of  it  will  be 
hiore  terrible  than  a  ftream  of  lightniing  through  their 
hearts.  We  can  conceive  but  very  little  of  the  horror 
which  it  fliall  produce. 

6.  Upon  this  Chrift  and  all  his  faints,  and  tlie  holy 
ano-els  miniftering  unto  them,  fliall  leave  this  lower  world, 
and  afcend  up  to  the  highcft  heavens.  Chrill:  fliall  afccnd 
in  as  "-leat  glory  as  he  defcended,  and  in  feme  refpefts 
greater  ;  for  now  he  Ihall  afcend  with  his  eledV  church  with 
him,  glorified  in  both  body  and  foul.  Chrifl's  firll:  afcen- 
fion  to  heaven  foon  after  his  own  refurre6lion  was  verv  glo- 
rious ;  but  this  fecond  afcenfion,  the  afcenfion  of  his  niylli- 
cal  body,  his  whole  church,  fliall  be  far  more  fo.  The 
redeemed  church  fliall  all  afcend  with  him  in  a  mofc  joyful 
and  triumphant  manner ;  and  all  their  enemies  and  perfe- 
cutors,  who  fliall  be  left  behind  on  this  accurfed  ground, 
ihallfee  their  glory  and  hear  their  fongs. 

7.  When  Chrifl:  and  his  church  have  afcended  to  hea- 
ven, this  world  fliall  be  fet  on  fire,  and  turned  into  a  great 
furnace,  wherein  all  the  enemies  of  Chrifl:  and  his  church 
fliall   be  tormented  for  ever  and  ever.    [2    Pet.    iii.    7.] 

*  But  the  heavens  and  the  earth  which  arc  now,  by  the 

*  fame   word  are  kept  in  fl:ore,  referved  unto  fire  againft: 

4  A  '  the 

fcparated  from  thee,  and  curft  with  immortality, — who  can  fuftain 
the  intolerable  doom  ? 

O  dreadful  ftate  of  black  defpaifj 

To  fee  my  God  remove, 
And  fix  my  doleful  ftatlon  where 
I  muft  not  tafte  his  love, 
nor  view  the  light  of   thy  countenance  for  ever.      Unutterable 
woe  !   there  is  no  hell  beyond  it.     Separation  from  God   is  the 
depth  of  mifery.      Blacknefs  of  darknefs,  and  eternal  night  muit 
necefTarily  involve  a  foul  excluded  from  thy  prefcnce, 

*'  Depart  from  thee!  Oh  !  whither  fhaU  I  go  from  thee  ?  Into 
Htter  darknefs?  After  that  fearful  doom,  I  fliould  without  con- 
llraint  feek  out  fhades  as  dark  as  hell,  and  in  the  horrors  of  eternal 
pight  bewail  the  infinite  lofs. 

*'  The  remembrance  of  that  loft  happinefs  would  render  celeftial 
day  infuffcrable.  The  hght  of  paradife  could  not  cheer  me  with- 
out thy  favour :  the  fongs  of  angels  would  but  heighten  my  an- 
guifli  and  torment  me  with  a  fcene  of  blifs  which  I  muft  never 
tafte."  [Mrs.  Rowe's  Meditations,  p.  67.] 


546        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  the  day  of  judgment,  and  perdition  of  ungodly  men.' 
Ah  !  how  will  it  ftrike  the  wicked  with  horror,  when  the 
world  Ihall  be  fet  on  fire,  either  by  lightning  from  heaven, 
or  fire  ifTuing  out  of  the  bowels  of  the  earth  :  efpecially 
when  the  fire  begins  to  lay  hold  upon  them,  and  they  find 
no  way  to  cfcape  it.    [2  Pet.  iii.  10.  12.]    '  The  heavens 

*  fhall  pafs  away  with  a  great  noife,  and  the  elements 
'  fliall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  alfo,  and  the 
'  works  that  are  therein  fliall  be  burnt  up  ;  and  that  the 

*  heavens  being  on  fire  fliall  be  difTolved,  and  the  elements 
'  fliall  melt  with  fervent  heat.'  And  fo  fierce  fliall  be  its 
heat,  that  it  iliall  burn  the  earth  into  its  very  centre. 
[Deut.  xxxii.  22.]   '  For  a  fire  is  kindled  in  my  anger,  and 

*  fliall  burn  unto  the  loweft  hell,  and  fhall  confume  the 
'  earth   with   increafe,  and  fet  on  fire  the  foundations  of 

*  the  mountains.' 

And  here  fhall  all  the  perfecutors  of  the  church  of 
God  burn  in  everlafling  fire,  who  have  before  burnt  the 
faints  at  the  flake,  and  fhall  fufFer  torments  beyond 
all  that  their  utnioft  wit  and  malice  could  inflidt  on 
them.  Here  their  bodies  fliall  be  tormented  eternally, 
and  never  be  confunied :  while  the  wrath  of  God  fliall  be 
poured  out  upon  their  fouls.  Though  the  fouls  of  the 
wicked  in  hell  do  now  fufFer  punifliment,  yet  that  will 
be  fo  increafed  at  the  day  of  judgment,  that  what  they 
fufFered  before,  is  in  comparifon  of  it,  as  an  imprifonment 
to  the  execution  which  follows,    (k)     And  now  the  devil, 

that 


(k)  The  ETERNITY  of  hell  torments. '\  This  is  a  fubjeft  fo  awful 
and  alarming,  that  a  benevolent  mind  would  never  wi(h  to  con- 
templ'de,  much  kfs  to  difcourfe  of  it,  but  a  faithful  minifter  mull 
not  always  confult  his  feelings,  but  be  content  fometimes  to  offer 
violence  to  himfelf  for  the  good  of  others.  "  Where  is  the  mini- 
fter of  the  gofpel  (fays  Mr.  Sauiin)  who  has  notathouland  and  a 
thoufand  times  difplayed  the  charms  of  religion,  and  difplayed 
them  in  vaini"'  Some  fouls  muft  be  terrified;  fome  finners  muff 
be  faved  with  fear  and  pulled  out  of  the  fire.  [Jude  23.]  Some 
hearts  are  fenfible  only  to  one  objeA,  that  is  hell;  and  if  there  be 
any  one  way  of  preventing  their  being  really  precipitated  into  that 
frightful  abyfs  hereafter,  it  is  by  precipitating  them  there  in  ima- 
gination 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.       547 

that  old  ferpcnt,  fliall  receive  his  full  punlfhment  ;  and 
that  which  he  long  trembled  for  fear  of,  fliall  now   fully 

come 

gination  now  !  '  Knowing  therefore  the  terror  of  the  Lord  we  per- 
fuadc  men.'    [2  Cor.  v.  11.]    [Sermons,  v.  vol.  i.    Ser.  7.] 

Such  preachers  have  been  called  minifters  of  damnation,  with  as 
much  propriety  as  a  man  who  alarmed  a  family  in  danger  of  fur- 
rounding  flames,  fliould  be  called  a  meflenger  of  deftruction. 

Monf.  Claude  points  out  a  very  judicious  method  of  treating  the 
fubjeft — By  fliewing  that  man  is  a  creature  fubjecl  to  a  law — a 
law  fuppofes  a  judge-=— and  a  judge  punifliment  upon  tranfgrefibrs. 
This  is  fo  evident  to  the  common  fcnfe  of  mankind,  that  all  na- 
tions have  admitted  the  doftrine  of  future  punifliment  into  their 
religions.  But  the  evidences  of  this  mufl:  net  reit  here  ;  fcrlp- 
ture  mufl:  be  applied  to  as  the  ultimate  authority  ;  and  from  this 
mull  be  fliewn,  not  only  that  God  will  punifli  finncrs,  but  par- 
ticularly, that  he  will  punKh  them  in  a.ftiture  ft:ate — that  this  pu- 
nifliment  win   invole    both  foul  and    body,    as   both    have    been 

connefted  in  fin that  it  mufl;  be  a  real  punifliment,  including 

real,  permanent,  and  everlafling  fenfatlon  of  pain — and  that  its 
degree  will  be  proportional  to  the  greatnefs  of  the  Judge,  the 
ftriftnefs  of  the  tribunal,  and  the  power  of  the  Almighty  hand  that 
executes  It.  [See  Claude's  Eflay,  tranfl.  by  Robinfon,  vol.  i. 
402 — 408.]  But  we  fliall  rather  abft.raft  the  fubftance  of  a  feinion 
of  our  author  (Pref.  Edwards)  who  has  treated  the  fubjeft  with 
much  argument  and  good  fenfe,  Inteifperfing  (between  crotchets) 
fomeobfervations  from  other  authors. 

After  fome  preliminary  remarks  our  author  eflabllflies  this 
DOCTRINE,  viz.  That  the  m'ljery  of  the  iv'ichcd  tn  hell  tviU  he  abfo- 
lulely  ETERNAL.  Li  dlfcoivding  on  this  doftrlne  he  advances  four 
propofitlons : 

L  That  it  is  not  contrary  to  the  divine  perfections  to  Inflidl  on 
wicked  men  a  punifliment  that  is  eternal.  ( i . )  That  It  is  not  Incon- 

fiftent  with  divine  jufliice  appears  from  the  infinite  evil  of  fin. 

[Confider  that  among  men  all  ofl^ences  increafe  their  malignity  In 
proportion  to  the  dignity  of  the  perfon  offended.  The  murder  of 
a  flave  is  highly  criminal,  but  that  of  a  mafter,  a  father,  a  prince, 
proportionally  more  fo.  God  is  a  being  of  Infinite  Majefty,  and 
his  authority  over  all  the  creatures  abfolute  and  unlimited  :]  God 
is  alfo  Infinitely  worthy  of  love,  honour,  and  obedience  ;  our'ob- 
llgations  to  honour  and  obey  him  are  therefore  Infinite,  and  confe- 
quently  fin,  which  violates  all  thofe  obligations,  [infults  that  Ma- 
jefty, and  renounces  his  authority]  muft  be  in  its  objeH,  at  leatt, 
infinite,  and  therefore  deferves  infinite,  or  which  Is  the  fame  thing, 
f/frWpunlftiment. — (2.)  Neither  is  the  dotlrlne  Inconfiftent  with 
the  divine  mercy.  It  Is  an  unieafonable  and  an  unfcriptural  notion 
of  God's  mercy,  to  fuppofc  that  his  nature  is  fo  liable  to  be  moved 
and  overcome,  by  feeing  a  creature  in  mifery,  that  he  cannot  bear 

4  A    2  tH 


54?         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

come  upon  him.     This  worhl,  which  formerly  ufed  to  be 

the 

to  fee  impartial  juftice  executed.  The  fcriptures  reprefent  the 
mercy  of  God  as  free  and  fovereign,  and  not  of  fuch  a  nature  that 
God  cannot  help  but  deliver  finners  from  mifery.  This  is  a  mean 
and  mod  unworty  idea  of  the  divine  mercy  ;  it  is  alfo  contrary 
to  plain  fa£l.  For  if  there  be  any  meaning  in  the  objeclion,  it  fu- 
pofes  that  all  the  mifery  of  a  creature,  whether  jull  or  unjuft,  is 
in  itfelf  contrary  to  the  nature  of  God.  For  if  a  very  great  de- 
gree of  mifery,  though  juft,  is  contrary  to  his  nature,  then  it  is 
only,  in  our  conceptions,  to  add  to  the  mercy,  and  then  a  lefs  de- 
gree of  mifery  will  be  fo.  And  fo,  the  mercy  of  God  being  infi- 
nite, all  mifery  mujl  be  contrary  to  his  nature ;  which  is  manifellly 
contrary  to  fadl.  For  wc  fee  that  God,  in  his  providence,  inllifts 
very  great  calamities  on  mankind,  even  in  this  life.  However 
itrong  fuch  kind  of  objeftions  may  feem,  they  arife  from  want  of 
a  fenfe  of  the  inlinite  evil  and  provocation  that  there  are  in  fin. —  If 
fin  appeared  as  hateful  to  us,  as  eternal  mifery  appears  dreadful ; 
if  it  ilirred  up  our  indignation  and  deteflation,  as  eternal  mifery 
does  our  terror,  all  objeftions  againft  this  doctrine  would  vanifli  at 
once.  [So  obferves  the  inimitable  Saurin.]  "  Allow  the  obliga- 
tions under  which  the  incarnation  lays  mankind,  and  everlafting 
punifnment  feems  to  me  to  have  nothing  contrary  to  divine  juftice. 
— No,  the  burning  lake  with  its  fmoke,  eternity  with  its  abyiTes, 
devils  with  their  rage,  all  hell  with  all  its  horrors,  feem  to  me  not 
too  rigorous  for  the  punifhment  of  men,  who  have  *  trodden  un- 

*  der  foot  the  Son  of  God,  counted  the  blood  of  the  Covenant  an 

*  unholy  thing,  crucified  the  Son  of  God  afrefh,  and  done  defplte 
'  unto  the  Spirit  of  Grace."  [Heb.  vi.  6.  x.  26.']  [Saurin,  vol.  iii. 
Sen  13.] 

But  eternal  mifery  is  not  only  confiftent  with  the  divine  perfec- 
tions, but  they  appear  evidently  to  require  it.  They  require  that 
God  riiould  infinitely  hate  fin — that  he  ihould  exprefs  tliat  hatred  ; 
(for  no  poiTible  reafon  can  be  given  why  it  is  not  fuitable  for  God 
to  aS,  as  it  is  fuitable  for  him  to  be;)  and  the  proper  cxprefTion 
of  an  infinite  hatred  to  fin,  in  the  inflicaon  of  eternal  punifliment 
on  incorrigible  finners. 

\1.  That  eternal  death  or  puniihment,  which  God  threatens  to 
the  wicked,  is  not  anv.'ih'ilai'ion,  but  an  i}o'i6\n^  fetifcle pun'i/hmiiit, 
or  miferv.  (i.)  The  fcripture  reprefents  it  as  implying  extreme 
pains  and  fuffcrings — '  The  fmoke  of  t\\Q\r  tornwrit.  [Rev,  :;iv.  1 1. 
See  alfo  Matt.  xxvi.  24.]  (2.)  It  defcribes  them  a&fenjlklr  of  their 
punifliment — '  I  am  tormented.'  [Luke  xvi.  24.]  (3.)  It  men- 
tions different  degrees  of  punifhment — '  Few  ftripes  and  many.' 
[Luke  xii.  47.  See  alfo  Matt.  v.  22.]  (4. )  The  wicked  are  called 
*   Spirits  in  prifon.'   [i  Pet.  iii.  19.] 

III.  The  punifliment  of  the  wicked  fliall  be  abfohitely  'without 
aid.     Of  thofe  who  have  held  that  the  torments  of  Iiell  are  not 

abfo- 


i 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.        549 

the  place  of  liis  kingdom,  where  he  fet  himfelf  up  as  God, 

fluU 

abfolutely  eternal,  i.  Some  fuppofe,  that  in  the  threatenings  of 
everlafting  punifhment,  the  terms  ufed  do  not  neceflarily  import 
a  proper  eternity,  but  only  a  very  long  duration.  2.  Others  fup- 
pofe, that  if  they  do  import  a  proper  eternity,  yet  we  cannot 
neceffarlly  conclude  thence,  that  God  will  fulfil  his  threatenings. 
But  ( I.)  that  thefe  terms  imply  a  proper  eternity,  obferve  that  al- 
though the  words  for-evcr,  &c.  are  fometlmes  ufed  in  a  limited  fig- 
nification,  as  referring  to  a  long  time,  on  this  fubjeft  they  cannot 
well  be  fo  taken  as  relating  to  a  period  which  commences  not  until 
time  is  no  more — th.at  they  arc  doubled  '  for  ever  and  ever,'  [Rev. 
xiv.  1 1.] — the  fame  expreffions  defcribe  the  happlnefs  of  the  blef- 
fed,  [Matt.  XXV.  46.]  and  even  the  divine  exillcnce,  [Rev.  iv.  9.] 
where  there  is  no  doubt  of  tlieir  importing  an  endlcfs  period. — 
Our  Lord  fays  that  finners  fliall  not  be  delivered  till  they  have  paid 
the  utmoft  farthing,  [Matt.  v.  26.]  that  'their worm  dicthnof,  and 
their  fire  is  7/0^ quenched.'  [Markix,  44.]  [See  Note  d,  p.  46.] 
(2.)  There  are  others  who  allow,  that  thefe  threatenings  de- 
note a  proper  eternity ;  yet  fuppofe  that  pofTibly  God  may  not 
fulfil  tlicm  ;  there  not  being  the  fame  reafon  to  oblige  God  to  ful- 
fil his  threatenings  as  his  promlfes. 

But,  though  this  Is  granted  as  to  conditional  threatenings,  it 
muil  not  be  admitted  of  thofe  v.hich  are  pofitive  and  peremptory, 
as  are  thofe  of  eternal  punifliment ;  many  of  which  are  cxpreffed 
in  the  form  of  predidlon;;. — Such  perfons  alfo  fuppofe,  that  God 
was  obliged  to  make  ufe  of  ^fal'cicy  to  govern  the  world  by  ;  and 
a  fallacy  fo  weak  that  they  have  been  able  to  detect  it. 

["  But  if  it  were  allowed,  that  God  had  no  other  defign  in  de- 
nouncing eternal  punilhnients  than  that  of  alarming  finners,  would 
it  become  us  to  oppofe  his  wife  purpofe,  and  with  our  unhallowed 
hands  throw  down  the  barrier  which  he  had  erefted  againft  fin  ?  .  . 
Let  us  preach  the  gofpel  as  God  hath  revealed  it.  God  did  not 
think  the  doclrine  of  everlafting  punifhment  injurious  to  the  holi- 
nefs  of  his  attributes.  Let  not  us  pretend  to  think  it  will  injure 
them."     Saurin,  Ser.  3.  vol.  ill.] 

IV.  Several  good  and  Important  ends  will  be  obtained  by  this 
eternal  punifliment  of  the  wicked.  As  the  vindication  of  God's 
injured  majefty — the  honour  of  divine  juftice — and  even  indired- 
ly,  the  glory  of  divine  mercy — and  the  greater  happlnefs  of  the 
faints.  [Not  that  they  can  tnke  any  pleafure  in  the  fight  of  mi- 
fery,  but]  it  will  make  them  more  fcnfible  of  their  own  happlnefs, 
and  more  to  prize  difcrimlnating  grace.  [Vrz{.  Edwards'  Serm. 
Etern.ofHelh] 

Thus  far  our  author;  prolix  as  this  note  may  be,  it  is  hoped 
the  importance  of  the  fubjeft  (efpcclally  at  this  time)  will  apolo- 
gize for  briefly  confidering  an  objedion  or  two  not  mentioned 
above,  but  which  to  fome  have  appeared  of  great  force. 

I.  It 


550        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

fhall  be  the  place  of  his  full  and  everlafting  punifhment. 
(l.)  And  in  this  another  defign  of  the  work  of  redemption, 
viz.  putting  Chrift's  enemies  under  his  feet,  fliall  be  per- 
fe6tly  accomplilhed.  His  enemies  fhall  now  be  made  his 
footftool,  in  the  fulleft  degree.  Now  Ihall  be  the  com- 
plete 

1.  It  has  been  often  urged,  that  the  whole  period  in  which  men 
fin  being  but  a  few  years,  bears  no  proportion  to  an  eternity  of  fuf-  . 
fering.  But  (as  Mr.  Saurin  hath  well  obferved)  "  it  is  not  the 
length  of  time  employed  in  committing  a  crime  that  determines  the 
degree  and  the  duration  of  its  punifhment,  it  is  the  turpitude  and 
atrocioufnefs  of  it."  A  man  fliall  rob  us  in  the  flreet,  another 
fhall  receive  the  article  ftolen,  our  law  fhalL  tranfport  the  former 
for  7  and  the  latter  for  14  years,  though  both  were  inftantaneous 
adls.  But  a  third  fliall  by  a  long  continued  feries  of  cruelty  ftarvc 
a  domeftic  to  death,  and  yet  he  fliall  receive  an  inftantaneous  pu- 
nifliment,  he  fliall  die. 

2.  It  is  poffitively  faid  God  will  not  keep  his  anger  for  ever, 
will  not  be  always  wrath,  [Pf.  ciii.  9.  Ifa.  Ivii.  16.]  and  yet  it  is 
alfo  as  pofitivcly  faid  that  he  will  have  no  mercy  on  the  creatures 
of  his  own  hand,  but  punifli  them  with  everlafting  dettruclion, 
[Ifa.  xxvii.  2.  2  Thef.  i.  9.]  how  then  fliall  we  reconcile  thefe  af- 
iertions  ?  By  fixing  a  different  fenfe  on  the  fame  words  to  favour  a 
flattering  hypothefis  ?  No,  but  by  diftinguifliing  the  perfons  to 
whom  the  promifes  and  thrcatenings  are  addrefled,  the  former  to 
Ifrael,  to  the  contrite  and  humble  penitent ;  the  latter  to  obitinate 
and  impenitent  fuiners,  as  may  be  feen  in  the  context. 

After  all  we  do  not  deny,  but  that  fome  perfons  by  treating  this 
doftrine  injudicioufly  have  given  too  much  handle  to  objeftors — 
we  do  not  pretend  that  it  has  no  difficulties  ;  but  we  think  moft  of 
them  maybe  refolved  (Saurin  fays  «//  of  them)  by  confidering 
that  though  all  the  wicked  will  be  involved  in  punifliment  of  the 
fame  duration,  yet  God  can  apportion  the  degree  of  punifliment, 
to  the  degree  of  the  finners  turpitude.  And  that  this  punifliment 
will  not  be  merely  an  arbitrary  infliftion  of  Deity,  but  the  natural 
confequcnce  of  fin.  Sin  eftranges  the  foul  from  God — baniflies 
it  from  his  prefence — torments  the  confcience — hardens  the  heart, 
and,  without  almighty  grace,  a  finner  left  to  himfelf  will  for  ever 
fin,  and  confequcntly  forever  fuffer.  [T-  N.] 

(l)  T/ms  W0R1.V Jha/l/'e  hell.]  So  conjeftured  our  author;  on 
the  contrary  Dr.  Bunieit  and  many  others  have  imagined  that  the 
earth  would  be  purified  and  become  the  heaven  of  the  faints, 
perhaps  both  were  wrong.  At  leafl  neither  of  thefe  pofitions  feem 
to  be  plainly  revealed;  and  our  notions  of  fpiritual  bodies  are  fo 
uncertain  and  imperfcft  that  we  can  hardly  reafon  on  the  fubjeft. 
Doubtlefs  the  Divine  Majefty  will  not  want  means  of  punifiiing  ob- 
ftinatt^  rebels  againil   his  government,    and  wherever  may  be  the 

fcene 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.        551 

plcte  fulfilment  of  that  tliieatening,  [Gen.  iii.  15.]  *  It  fliall 
'  bruife  thy  head.' 

8.  At  the  fame  time,  all  the  cliurch  fliall  enter  with 
Chrid:,  their  head,  into  the  highefl  heavens,  and  fhall 
there  enter  on  the  Hate  of  their  higheft  and  eternal  bleffed- 
nefs  and  glory.  While  the  lower  world,  which  they 
have  left  under  their  feet,  is  fcized  with  the  fire  of  God's 
vengeance,  the  whole  church  lliall  enter,  with  their  glo- 
rious head,  and  all  the  holy  angels  attending,  in  a  joy- 
ful manner,  into  the  eternal  paradife  of  God,  the  palace 
of  the  great  Jehovah,  their  heavenly  Father.  The  gates 
fhall  open  wide  for  them  to  enter,  and  there  ChrifV  will 
bring  them  into  his  chambers  in  the  highcil  fenfe.  He 
will  bring  them  into  his  Father's  houfe,  into  a  world 
not  like  that  which  they  have  left.  Here  Chrift  will 
bring  them,  and  prefent  them  in  glory  to  his  Father,  fay- 
ing,    '  Here  am  I  and  the  children  which  thou  haft  given 

*  me;'    [Heb.  ii.  15.]    as  much  as  to  fay,    '  Here  am   I, 

*  with  every  one  of  thofe  whom  thou  gavefi;  me  from  etcr- 
'  nity  to  take  the  care  of,  that  they  might  be  redeemed  and 
'  glorified,  and  to  redeem  whom  I  have  done  and  fufFered 
'  fo  much,  and  to  make  way  for  the  redemption  of  whom 

*  I  have  for  fo  many  ages  been  accomplilhing  fuch  great  re- 
'  volutions.    Here  they  are  now  perfeilly  redeemed  in  body 

*  and  foul ;    I  have  pcrfedlly  delivered  them  from  all  the 

'  ill 

fcene  of  his  juftice,  it  muft  exceed  the  power  of  our  prefent  con- 
ceptions. Milton  has  perhaps  in  the  following  pafTage  given  the 
fineft  fpeclmen  of  the  terrific  fublime,  which  ever  came  from  an 
uninfpired  pen. 

"  A  dungeon  horrible  on  all  fides  round 

As  one  great  furnace  flam'd,  yet  from  thofe  flames 

No  light,  but  rather  darknefs  vlfible 

Serv'd  only  to  difcover  fights  of  woe, 

Regions  of  forrow,  doleful  fhades,  where  peace 

And  reft  can  never  dwell,  hope  never  comes 

That  comes  to  all;  but  torture  without  end 

Still  urges,  and  a  fiery  deluge  fed 

With  ever  burning  fulphur  unconfum'd  : 

Such  place  eternal  juftice  has  prepared 

For  thofe  rebellious." 

[Par.  Loft.  b.  i.  j  • 


552        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

'  ill  efFedls  of  the  fall,  and  freed  them  from  all  their  cne- 
*  mies ;  I  have  brought  them  all  together  into  one  glorious 
'  fociety,  and  united  them  all  in  myfelf :  I  have  openly 
'  juftified  them  all  before  angels  and  men,  and  I  have 
'  brought  them  hither  from  that  accuifed  world  where 
'  they  have  fufFered  fo  much,  and  prefented  them  Ipotlefs 
'  before  thy  throne  :  I  have  done  all  that  for  them  which 
'  thou  haft  appointed  me:  I  have  perfe6lly  cleanfed 
'  them  from  ail  lilthinefs  in  my  blood,  and  here  they 
'  are  refplendent  with  thy  perfe6l  image.'  And  then  the 
Father  will  accept  and  own  them  for  his  children,  and 
will  welcome  them  to  the  eternal  and  perfedt  inheritance 
and  glory  of  his  houfe,  giving  them  more  glorious  mani- 
feftations  of  his  love  than  ever,  and  admitting  them  to  a 
more  full  and  perfe6l  enjoyment  of  himfelf. 

And  now  Ihall  be  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  in  the 
moft  perfect  fenfe.  The  commencement  of  the  glorious 
times  of  the  church  on  earth,  after  the  fall  of  antichrift, 
is  reprefcnted  as  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  :  but  after 
this  we  read  of  another  marriage  of  the  Lamb,  at  the  clofe 
of  the  day  of  judgment.  After  the  beloved  difciplc  had 
given  an  account  of  the  day  of  judgment,  in  the  clofc  of 
the  xxth  chapter  of  Revelation,  then  he  proceeds  to  give 
an  account  of  what  follows  in  the  xxifl:  and  xxiid  chapters ; 
and  particularly  he  gives  an  account,  that  he  faw  the 
holy  city,  the  new  Jerufalem,  (m)  preijared  as  a  bride 
adorned  for  her  hulband.  And  when  Chrift  fhall  bring 
his  church  into  his  Father's  houfe  in  heaven,  after  the 
judgment,  he  (hall  bring  her  thither  as  his  bride,  having 
there  prefented  her,  whom  he  loved,  and  gave  himfelf 
for,  to  himfelf  without  fpot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  fuch 
thin'^-.  [Eph.  V.  27.]  The  bridegroom  and  the  bride  fhall 
then   enter   into   heaven,    both  having  on  their  wedding 

robes. 


(m)    The  Nfav  Jerusalem.]     Among  other  circumftanccs 
(which  are  undoubtedly  allegorical)  in  the  magnificent  defcription 
of  this  city,  it  isfaid  [Rev.  xxi.  21.']   *  The  ilreetof  the  city  was 
«  pure  gold  as  it  were  tranfparent  glafs.' — From  this  pafTage  an  in- 
genious 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURU  STATE.  ^^^ 

robes,  attended  with  all  the  glorious  angels,  and  com- 
mencing an  eternal  feaft:    of  bleflednefs This   fnall 

be  the  day  of  the  gladnefs  of  Chrifl's  heart,  wherein  he 
win  greatly  rejoice,  and  all  the  faints  with  him.  Chrlil: 
ihall  rejoice  over  his  bride,  and  the  bride  fhall  rejoice  in 
her  hufband,  in  this  ftatc  of  her  confummate  and  evcrlaft- 
ing  bleflednefs. 

And  now  the  whole  work  of  redemption  is  iinlflicd' 
We  have  fccn  how  It  has  been  carrying  on  from  the  fall 
of  man  to  this  time.  But  now  it  is  complete,  the  top 
ftoneofthe  building  is  laid.  In  the  progrefs  of  the  dif- 
courfe  on  this  fubje6l,  we  have  followed  the  church  of 
God  in  all  the  florms  and  tcmpePiS  through  which  Ihe  has 
pafled,  till  at  length  we  have  feen  her  enter  the  harbour, 
and  land  in  the  higheft  heavens,  in  complete  and  eternal 
glory.  We  have  gone  through  time,  and  the  feveral  ages 
of  it,  as  the  providence  of  God,  and  the  word  of  God 
have  led  us ;  and  now  wc  have  iflucd  in  eternity  when 
time  fliall  be  no  more.  We  have  feen  all  the  church's 
enemies  fixed  in  endlefs  mifery,  and  the  church  prefented 
before  the  Father  in  heaven,  there  to  enjoy  the  moft  un- 
4  B  fpeal'iablo 

genious  writer  (Mr.  Ketvion,)  has  fuggefted  the  follov/ing  beauti- 
ful ideas :...."  If  our  reading  is  right,  we  muil  underftand  it 
either  of  gold,  pure,  bright,  and  perfpicuous  as  the  fineft  tranf- 
parent  glafs,  or  elfe,  as  two  diflin6l  comparifons ;  fplendid  and 
durable  as  the  pureft  gold,  clear  and  tranfparent  as  the  fineft 
glafs. — Our  glafs  is  clear  but  brittle,  our  gold  is  fliinlng  and  folid, 
but  it  is  opaque  and  difcovers  only  a  fiirface  ;  and  thus  it  is  with 
our  minds.  The  powers  of  imagination  are  lively  and  extenfive, 
but  tranfient  and  uncertain.  The  powers  of  the  underftanding  are 
more  folid  and  regular  ;  but  at  the  fame  time  more  flow  and  limit- 
ed, and  confined  to  the  outfide  properties  of  the  few  objeds  around 
us.  But  when  we  arrive  within  the  vail,  the  perfections  of  the 
glafs  and  gold  will  be  combined,  and  the  imperfeftions  of  each 
entirely  ceafe.  Then  we  fnall  know  more  than  we  can  now  ima- 
gine ;  the  glafs  Jlmll  he  all  gold.  And  then  we  fliall  apprehend  truth 
in  all  its  relations  and  confequences  ....  by  a  Angle  glance  of 
thought,  as  the   fight  pierces  in    an  inftant  through  the  largeft 

tranfparent  body  :  the  gold  tvUl  he  all  glafs (I  do  not  oifer 

this  as  the  fenfe   of  the  palfagc.")      [Cardiphonia,  vol,  i.  p. 


554  HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fpeakable  and  inconceivable  glory  and  blefTcdnefs  through- 
out the  never  ending  ages  of  eternity,  (n) 

Now  all  Chrift's  enemies  will  be  perfe6tly  put  under 
his  feet,  and  he  fhall  have  his  moft  perfect  triumph  over 
fin  and  Satan,  and  all  his  inftruments,  and  death  and  hell. 
Now  fhall  all  the  promifcs  made  to  Chrift  by  the  Father 
before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  the  promifes  of  the 
covenant  of  redemption,  be  fully  accompliflied.  Chrift 
fl^iall  now  perfe6lly  have  obtained  the  joy  that  was  fet  be- 
fore him,  for  which  he  undertook  thofe  fufFerings  which 
he  underwent  in  the  ftate  of  humiliation.  Now  fhall  all 
the  hopes  and  expedtations  of  the  faints  be  fulfilled.  The 
ftatc  of  things  that  the  church  was  in  before  was  a  pro- 
greflive  and  preparatory  ftate ;  but  now  flie  is  arrived  to 
her  moft  perfect  ftate  of  glory.  All  the  glory  of  the  beft 
times  of  the  church  on  earth  is  but  a  faint  ftiadow  of  this 
her  confummate  felicity  in  heaven. 

And  now  Chrift  the  great  Redeemer  ftiall  be  moft  per- 
fectly glorifted,  and  God  the  Father  Ihall  be  glorified  in 
him,  and  the  Holy  Ghofl:  fliall  be  moft  fully  glorified  in 
the  perfe6lion  of  his  work  on  the  hearts  of  all  the  church. 
—And  now  fliall  that  new  heaven  and  new  earth,  or  that 
renewed  iiate  of  tilings,  which  had  been  building  up  ever 
fince  Chrift's  refurre£lion,  be  completely  finiflied,  after 
the  very  material  frame  of  the  old  heavens  and  old  earth 
are  deftroyed  :   [Rev.  xxi.  i.]    *  And  I  faw  a  new  heaven 

'   and 

.    (n)   Eternity.] 

"  Eternity,  the  various  fentence  paft, 
AfTignsthe  fcvcr'd  throng  diitinft  abodes, 
Sulphureous  or  ambrolial :   what  enfues  ? 
The  deed  predominant !   the  deed  of  deeds  ! 
Which  makes  a  hell  of  hell,  a  heaii'n  of  heav'n. 
The  goddefs,  with  dctcrmin'd  afpe<3;,  turns 
Pier  adamantine  kevs,  enormous  fize, 
Thro'  dtfliny's  inextricable  v.-ards. 
Deep  driviuL^  every  bolt,  on  both  their  fates. 
Then  from  the  ehrydal  battlements  of  heav'n, 
Down,  down,  Hie  hurls  it  thro'  the  dark  profound, 
Ten  thoufand,  thoufand  fathoms,  there  to  ruft, 
And  ne'er  unlock  her  rcfolution  more." 

[Young's  Night  Thoughts,  N.  9.] 


COMPLETED  IN  A  FUTURE  STATE.        555 

*  and  a  new  earth  :  for  the  firfl:  heaven  and  the  tirlT:  eartii 

*  were  pafTcd  away.'— And  who  can  conceive  of  the  tii- 
umph  of  thofe  praifes  which  fliall  be  fung  in  heaven  on 
this  great  occafion.  The  beloved  difciple  John  feems  to 
want  expreflion  to  defcribe  the  joy  on  the  fall  of  antichrift, 
and  fays,  '  It  was  as  the  voice  of  many  waters,  and  as  the 
'   voice  of  mighty  thunderings,  faying  Alleluia  :  for  the 

*  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.'  But  much  more  inex- 
preffible  will  thofe  praifes  be  which  will  be  fung  in  heaven 
after  the  final  confummation  of  all  things :  they  will  be 
mighty  thunderings  indeed  ! 

And  now  how  are  all  the  former  things  pafTed  away,  and 
•what  a  glorious  ftate  arc  things  fixed  in  to  remain  to  all 
eternity  !  and  as  Chrift,  when  he  firfl:  entered  upon  the 
work  of  redemption  after  the  fall  of  man,  had  the  king- 
dom committed  to  him  of  the  Father,  and  took  on  him- 
felf  the  adminiftration  of  tlie  affairs  of  the  univerfe,  to 
manage  all  fo  as  to  fubferve  the  purpofes  of  this  affair  ;  lb 
now,  the  work  being  iinilhed,  he  will  deliver  up  the  king- 
dom to  God,  even  tlie  Father,  [i  Cor.  xv.  24.]  '  Tlien 
'  Cometh  the  end,  when  he  iliall  have  delivered  up  the 
'  kingdom  to  God,  even  the  Father;  when  he  fliall  have 
'  put  down  all  rule,  and  all  authority  and  power.'  Not 
that  Chrift  fhould  ceafe  to  reign  or  have  a  kingdom  after 
this;  for  it  is  faid,  [Luke  i.  33.]  '  He  fliall  reign  over 
'  the  houfe  of  Jacob  forever,  and  of  his  kingdom  there 
'  fliall  be  no  end.'  [Dan.  vii.  14.]  '  His  dominion  is  an 
'  everlafting  dominion,  which  fhall  not  pafs  away,  and 
'  his  kingdom  that  which  fliall  not  be  deftroyed.'  But 
the  meaning  is,  that  Chrift  fliall  deliver  up  that  kingdom 
or  dominion  which  he  has  over  the  world,  as  the  Father's 
delegate  or  vicegerent,  to  be  managed  in  fubierviency  to 
this  great  defign  of  redemption.  The  end  of  this  commif- 
fion,  or  delegation,  which  he  had  from  the  Father,  feems 
to  be  to  fubferve  this  particular  defign  of  redemption  ;  and 
theretore,  when  that  defign  is  fully  accompliflied,  tlie  coni- 
miflion  will  ceafe,  and  Chrift  will  deliver  it  up  to  the 
Father,  from  v.hom  he  received  it. 

jlB  z  GF.NE- 


556        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

GENERAL    IMPROVEMENT. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  enter  upon  feme  iinprovemcnc 
of  the  whole  that  has  been  faid  from  this  dodlrine. 

I.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  great  a  work  this  of  re- 
demption is.  We  have  now,  in  an  imperfe£l  manner  con- 
fidered  its  whole  progrefs  from  its  foundation  at  the  fall 
through  a  long  fucceffion  of  wonderful  works,  advancing 
higher  and  higher  from  one  age  to  another,  till  the  top- 
flone  is  laid  at  the  end  of  the  world.  And  now  let  us  con- 
sider how  great  this  work  is.  Do  men,  when  they  behold 
the  palaces  of  princes  admire  their  magnificence,  and  gran- 
deur? How  then  (hould  we  admire  this  building  of  God, 
which  he  has  been  erecting  for  himfelf  through  a  long  fuc- 
ceffion of  ages.  There  are  three  things  which  have  been 
mentioned,  that  efpecially  fhow  the  greatncfs  of  this  work 
of  redemption. 

(i.)  The  nature  of  thofe  particular  events  and  difpenfa- 
tions  of  Providence,  by  wliich  it  is  accomplilLed.  What 
great  things  were  done  in  the  world  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Chrift's  coming,  and  fubfeciuent  purchafe  of  redemption ! 
How  wonderful  was  the  incarnation  of  ChriH:,  that  God 
liiould  become  man,  Ihould  refide  upon  earth  for  four  and 
thirty  years  in  a  mean,  defpifed  condition  ;  that  he  fhould 
Ipcnd  his  life  in  fucli  labours  and  fuiferings,  and  at  laft  die 
"upon  the  crofs  !  And  what  great  things  have  been  done  to 
accomplilh  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  !  For  this 
purpofe  he  arofe  from  the  dead,  and  afcendcd  up  into  hea- 
ven, and  all  things  were  made  fubjedl:  to  him.  How  many 
miracles  have  been  wrought,  what  mighty  revolutions  have 
been  brought  to  pafs  in  the  world  already,  and  how  much 
greater  do  \vc  yet  cxpe6l ! 

(2.)  The  number  of  thofe  great  events  by  which  God 
carries  on  this  work,  fhows  the  greatnefs  of  the  work.— 
Thofe  mighty  revolutions  fill  up  many  ages.  The  work 
oi  creation  was  completed  in  fix  days ;  but  the  great  dif- 
pcnlaticns  by  which  the  woik  of  redemption  is  carried 
on,  are  fo  many,  that  they  fill  up  fix  or  {e\'en   thoufand 

years. 


GENERAL     IMPROVEMENT.  557 

years.  The  flood,  the  building  of  Babel,  the  difperfion  of 
the  nations,  the  (hortcning  of  the  days  of  man's  life,  the 
calling  of  Abraham,  the  dcilruftion  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah s  a  long  ferics  of  wonderful  providences  relating  to 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  andjofeph;  the  wonders  in 
Egypt,  in  the  Red  Sea,  in  the  wildernefs ;  and  a  long  fuc- 
ceffion  of  wonderful  providences  from  age  to  age  towards 
the  nation  of  the  Jews,  all  contributed  in  fome  view  to  this 
great  end.  What  great  things  were  done  alfo  in  Chrift's 
time,  and  fmce  then,  in  overturning  Satan's  kingdom  in 
the  heathen  empire,  in  preferving  his  church  in  the  dark 
times  of  popery,  and  in  bringing  about  the  Reformation  ! 
How  many  great  and  wonderful  tilings  mull  be  effe(5led  in 
accompliilaing  the  glorious  times  of*  the  church ;  and  at 
Chrift's  laft  coming  on  the  day  of  judgment,  in  the  de- 
llru<5lion  ot  the  world,  and  in  carrying  the  whole  church 
into  heaven  ! 

(3.)  The  glorious  iiTuc  of  this  whole  a  (Fair,  in  thejufl 
and  eternal  deflrudtion  of  the  wicked,  and  in  the  confuni- 
mate  glory  of  the  righteous.  And  now  let  us  once  more 
take  a  view  of  this  building,  now  it  is  finiilied  and  the  top- 
ftone  laid.  It  appeared  in  a  glorious  height  in  the  apollle's 
time;  higher  in  the  time  of  Confl:antine,  and  will  appear 
much  more  glorious  flill  after  the  fall  of  antichrill ;  but  at 
the  confummation  of  all  things,  it  appears  in  its  grcatell 
magniticence,  as  a  complete  lofty  ftru£lure,  whofe  top 
reaches  to  the  heaven  of  heavens;  a  building  worthy  of  the 
great  God,  the  King  of  kings. 

From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  infer,  that  the  work 
of  redemption  is  the  grcateft  of  all  God's  works  of  which 
we  have  any  knowledge.  This  work  is  the  principal  of 
all  God's  works  of  providence,  and  to  this  they  are  all  re- 
ducible. All  the  revolutions  in  the  world  arc  to  fubferve 
this  grand  defign.  The  work  of  redemption  is  alfo  greater 
than  that  ot  creation,  as  the  ufe  of  an  houfe  is  the  end 
of  building  it.  The  work  of  the  new  creation  is  more 
excellent  than  the  old  !  So  it  ever  is,  that  when  one 
thing  is  removed  by  God  to  make  way  for  another,  the 
new  one   excels  the  old.     Thus  the    temple  excelled  the 

tabernacle 


55B        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

tabernacle ;  the  new  covenant,  the  old  ;  the  new  difpenfa- 
tion  of  the  gofpel,  the  difpenfation  of  Mofes;  the  throne 
of  David,  tlie  throne  of  Saul  ;  the  prieflhood  of  Chrifl, 
the  priefthood  of  Aaron;  the  new  Jerufalem,  the  old; 
and  fo  the  new  creation  far  excels  the  old.  This  work  of 
redemption  is  fo  much  the  greatefl  of  God's  works,  that 
all  the  other  arc  to  be  looked  upon  either  as  parts  or  ap- 
pendages of  it,  or  as  fome  way  reducible  to  it ;  and  fo  all 
the  decrees  of  God  do  fome  way  or  other  belong  to  that 
eternal  covenant  of  redemption  which  was  between  the 
Father  and  the  Son  before  the  foundation  of  the  world.— 
Every  decree  of  God  is  fome  way  or  other  reducible  to 
that  covenant.  And  feeing  this  is  fo  great  a  work,  we 
need  not  wonder  that  the  angels  defire  to  look  into  it : 
that  it  is  fo  much  infifted  on  in  the  Bible  ;  being  the  great 
fubjeft  of  its  do6lrines,  promifes,  types,  fongs,  hiftories, 
and  prophecies. 

2.  Hence  we  may  learn  that  God  is  the  Alpha  and 
Omega,  the  beginning  and  end  of  all  things.  Such  are 
the  charafters  and  titles  we  find  often  afcribed  to  God  in 
thofe  places  where  the  fcripture  fpeaks  of  the  courfe  of 
providential  events;  [Ifa.  xli.  4.]  '  Who  hath  wrought 
'  and  done  it,  calling  the  generations  from  the  beginning  ? 

*  I,  the  Lord,  the  firll  and  the  laft,  I  am  he.'  [See  alfo 
Ifa.  xlv.  6,  7.  and  xlviii.  9,  12.]  And  therefore,  when 
Chrift  reveals  the  future  events  of  Providence  relating  to 
his  church  and  people,  and  this  affair  of  redemption,  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  to  his  difciple  John,  he  often  reveals 
himfelf  under  this  chara6ler  ;  [Rev.  i.  8.]  'I  am  Alpha 
'  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  ending,  faith  the 
'  Lord,  which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come, 
'  the  Almighty.'  [ver.  10,  1 1.]  'I  heard  behind  me  a  great 
'  voice  as  of  a  trumpet,  faying,  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega, 

*  the  firft  and  the  lafr.'  Alpha  and  Omega  are  the  names 
of  the  firft  and  lafl  letters  of  the  Greek  alphabet,  as  ^and 
Z  are  of  ours;  and  therefore  it  fignifies  the  fame  as  his 
being  the  firft  and  the  la!l,  and  the  beginning  and  the  end- 
ing, ^rhus  God  is  called  in  the  beginning  of  this  book, 
before  the  courfe  oi  the  prophecy  begins :  and  fo  again  at 

the 


GENERAL     IMPROVEMENT.         559 

the  end  of  it,  after  the  final  iffue  of  events.  [Rev.  xxi.  6.] 
'  And  he  faid  unto  me,   It  is  done.     I  am  Alpha  and  Ome- 

*  ga,  the  beginning  and  the  end.'  [Chap.  xxii.  12,  13.] 
'  And  behold,  I  come  quickly;  and  my  reward  is  with 
'  me,  to  give  every  man  according  as  his  work  fliall  be, 
'  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end,  the 

*  firft  and  the  laft.' 

We  have  now  feen  how  all  things  were  froyn  God  in 
the  beginning;  on  what  defign  God  began  the  courfe  of 
his  providence,  and  how  it  has  been  carried  on  agreeable 
to  his  defign,  without  ever  failing  :  and  that  at  laft  the 
conclufion  and  final  iffue  of  things  are  to  God ;  we  may 
therefore  exclaim  with  the  apoftle,  [Rom.  xi.  33,  36.] 
'   O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wifdom  and  know- 

*  ledge  of  God  !  how  unfearchable  are  his  judgments, 
<  and  his  ways  paft  finding  out  !    .   .   .   .   For  of  him,  and 

*  through  him,  and  to  him,  are  all  things :  to  whom 
'  be  glory  for  ever.  Amen.'  We  have  feen  other  ftates 
and  empires,  one  after  another,  fall  and  come  to  nothing, 
even  the  greateft  and  ftrongeft  of  them  ;  how  the  world 
has  been  often  overturned,  and  will  be  more  remark- 
ably fo  yet  than  ever  it  has  been  :  we  have  feen  how 
the  world  was  firft  deftroyed  by  water,  and  that  at  laft  it 
ftiall  be  utterly  confumed  by  fire;  but  yet  God  remains 
the  fame  through  all  ages.  He  was  before  the  beginning 
of  this  courfe  of  things,  and  he  will  be  after  the  end  of 
them.  [Pfal.  cii.  25,  26.]  We  have  feen  all  other  gods 
perilh ;  the  ancient  gods  of  the  heathen  in  the  nations 
about  Canaan,  and  throughout  the  Roman  empire,  are 
all  deftroyed,  and  their  worihip  long  fince  overthrown ; 
we  have  feen  Antichrift,  who  has  called  himfelf  a  god  on 
earth,  and  Mahomet,  who  claims  religious  honours,  and 
all  the  gods  of  the  Gentiles,  perifti :  and  even  Satan,  the 
great  dragon,  that  old  ferpent,  who  has  fet  up  himfelf  as 
god  of  this  world,  will  he  caft  into  the  lake  of  fire,  there 
to  fuffer  his  complete  punifliment:  but  Jehovah  remains, 
and  his  kingdom  is  an  everlafting  kingdom,  and  of  his 
dominion  there  is  no  end.     Wc  have    feen  mighty  and 

numberlefs 


56o        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

numberlefs  changes  in  the  world ;  but  God  is  unchange- 
able, *  the  fame  yefterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever.  [Hcb. 
Jciii.  8.] 

We  began  at  the  head  of  the  ftrcam  of  divine  provi- 
dence, and  have  traced  it  through  its  various  windings  and 
turnings,  till  we  are  come  to  the  end  of  it,  and  we  fee 
where  it  iffues.     As   it  began  in  God,  fo  it  ends  in  God. 

God  is  the  infinite  ocean  into  which  it  empties  itfelt 

Providence  is  like  a  mighty  wheel,  whofe  circumferance 
is  fo  high  that  it  is  dreadful ;  with  the  glory  of  the  God  of 
Ifracl  above  upon  it,  as  it  is  reprefented  in  Ezekiel's  vifion. 
[Ezek.  i.  15.  &c.]  We  have  feen  the  revolution  of  this 
wheel,  and  how,  as  it  was  from  God,  fo  its  return  has 
been  to  God  again.  All  tiie  events  of  divine  providence 
are  like  the  Jinks  of  a  chain  ;  tlie  iirft  link  is  from  God, 
and  the  laft  is  to  him. 

3.  We  may  fee  by  wliat  has  been  faid,  how  Chrifl:  in 
all  things  has  the  pre-eminence.  For  this  great  work  of 
redemption  is  all  his  work ;  and  therefore  being,  as  it 
were,  the  fum  of  God's  works  of  providence,  this  fhows 
the  glory  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifc,  as  being  above  all,  and 
through  all,  and  in  all.  That  God  intended  tlic  world 
for  his  Son's  ufe  in  the  affair  of  redemption,  is  one  reafon 
given  why  he  created  it  by  him,  as  feems  to  be  intimated 
bv  the  apoflle  in  Eph.  iii.  9—12.  What  has  been  faid 
fliows  how  all  the  purpofes  of  God  are  in  Chrift;  that  he 
is  before  all,  and  above  all,  and  that  all  things  confift  and 
are  governed  by  him,  and  for  him.  [Colof.  i.  t5— 18.] 
That  God  has  made  him  his  firft-born,  higher  than  the 
kings  of  the  earth,  and  fet  his  throne  above  tlieir  thrones; 
and  upheld  his  kingdom,  when  theirs  have  all  come  to  an 
end.  We  fee,  that  whatever  changes  there  are,  and  how- 
ever Chrift's  enemies  may  exalt  thcmfelves,  that  vet  finally 
all  his  enemies  fhall  become  his  footflool,  .and  that  he  fhall 
reign  in  uncontrouled  power  and  immenfe  glory ;  alfo  that 
in  the  end  his  people  fliall  be  all  perfeflly  favcd  and  made 
eternally  happy.  Thus  God  gives  the  world  to  his  Son 
for  his  inheritance. 

(4.)   Hence 


GENERAL    IMPROVEMENT.         561 

(4.)  Hence  we  may  fee  the  confiftency,  order,  and 
beauty,  of  God's  works  of  providence.  If  we  behold 
thefe  events  in  any  other  view  than  that  in  which  they  have 
been  fet  before  us,  they  will  all  look  like  confufion,  like 
a  number  of  jumbled  events  coming  to  pafs  without  any 
order  or  method  ;  like  the  tofling  of  the  waves  of  the  fea ; 
things  will  look  as  though  one  confufed  revolution  came  to 
pafs  after  another,  merely  by  blind  chance,  without  any 
regular  or  certain  end. 

But  if  we  confider  the  events  of  Providence  in  the  light 
in  which  the  fcriptures  fet  them  before  us,  they  appear  an  or- 
derly feries  of  events,  all  wifely  directed  in  excellent  harmo- 
ny and  confluence,  tending  all  to  one  end.  The  wheels 
of  Providence  are  not  turned  round  by  blind  chance,  but 
they  are  full  of  eyes  round  about,  as  Ezekiel  reprefents, 
and  they  are  guided  by  the  fplrit  of  God,  [ch.  i.  18—20.] 
where  the  fpirit  goes,  they  go  :  and  all  God's  works  of  pro- 
vidence, tlirough  all  ages,  meet  in  one  at  laft,  as  fo  many 
lines  in  one  centre,  (o) 

It 

(o)  The  myjler'ies  of  Providence.']  It  is  a  remark  of  fome  of  the 
Puritan  divines,  that  he  that  duly  obferves  the  divine  providences, 
will  never  want  providences  to  obferve.  And  this  hath  always 
been  the  pradice  of  believers.  "  If  thou  be  a  Chriftian  indeed, 
(fays  pious  Mr.  Bait  eh.)  I  know  thou  haft,  if  not  in  thy  book, 
yet  certainly  in  thy  heart,  a  great  many  precious  favours  of  Provi- 
dence upon  record."  [Sants' Reft  ,p.  168.]  And  not  only  on  earth, 
but  particularly  in  heaven,  the  contemplation  of  divine  Providence 
will  be  a  fource  of  inconceivable  delight  to  the  believer.  "  When  the 
records  of  eternity  (fays  Mr.  Howe)  fhall  be  expofcd  to  view,  all 
the  counfels  and  refults  of  that  profound  wifdom  looked  into,  how 
will  it  tranfport !  when  it  fhall  be  difcerned,  lo  !  thus  were  xhc 
defigns  laid;  here  were  the  apt  junctures  and  dependencies  of 
thingSj  which  when  afted  upon  the  ftage  of  time,  feemed  fo  per- 
plexed and  intricate!"  rBlcftednefs  of  the  Righteous,  p.  76.] — 
The  fubjecl  is  exhauftlefs ;  we  ftiall  only  add  a  ftiort  paffage  from 
another  admirable  writer  of  the  laft  centui7.  ' 

"  O  how  ravlftilng  a  fight  is  that !  to  behold  at  one  view  the 
whole  defign  of  Providence,  and  the  proper  place  and  ufe  of  every 
finglc  act,  which  we  could  not  underftand  in  this  world  ;  for  what 
Chrift  faid  to  Peter,  [John  xlii.  7.]  is  as  applicable  to  fome  provi- 
dences  in  which  we  are  now  concerned,  as  it  was  to  that  particular 
action  ;  *  What  I  do  thou  knoweft  not  now,  but  hereafter  thou 

4  C  '  fhalt 


S6±        HISTORY   OF    REDEMPTION. 

It  is  witli  God's  works  of  providence,  as  it  is  with  his 
work  of  creation ;  it  is  but  one  work.  The  events  of  Pro- 
vidence ate  not  fo  many  diftin6l,  independent  works,  but 
they  are  rather  fo  many  different  parts  of  one  work,  one 
regular  fcheme.  The  works  of  Piovidence  are  not  dif- 
united  and  jumbled  without  conne6lion  or  dependence,  but 
are  all  united,  juft:  as  the  feveral  parts  of  one  building. 
There  are  many  ftones,  many  pieces  of  timber,  but  all 
are  fo  joined,  and  fitly  framed  together,  that  they  make  but 
one  building :  they  have  all  but  one  foundation,  and  are 
united  at  laft  in  one  top-ftone. 

God's  providence  may  not  unfitly  be  compared  to  i 
large  and  long  river,  having  innumerable  branches,  be- 
ginning in  different  regions,  and  at  a  great  difiance  one 
from  another,  and  all  confpiring  to  one  common  iffue. — 
After  their  very  diverfe  and  contrary  courfes  which  they 
held  for  a  while,  yet  they  all  gather  more  and  more  to- 
gether, 

•  fhalt  know  it.'  All  the  dark,  Intricate,  puzzling  providences  at 
which  we  were  fometimes  fo  Humbled,  and  fometimes  amazed, 
which  we  could,  neither  reconcile  with  the  promife,  nor  with  each 
other;  nay,  which  we  fo  unjuftly  ccnfared  and  bitterly  bewailed, 
as  if  they  had  fallen  out  quite  crofs  to  their  happinefs  ;  we  Ihall 
then  fee  to  be  unto  us,  as  the  difficult  palfage  through  the  wllder- 
nefs  was  unto  Ifrael,  '  the  right  way  to  a  city  of  habitation.'  [Pfal. 
Gvii.  7.] 

"  And  yet,  though  our  prefent  views  and  reflexions  upon  Pro- 
vidence be  fo  fhort  and  imperfect  in  comparifon  of  that  in  hea- 
ven, yet  fuch  as  it  is,  under  all  its  prefent  difadvantages,  it  hath 
fo  much  excellency  and  fweetnefs  in  it,  that  I  may  call  it  a  little 
heaven,  or  as  Jacob  called  his  Bethel,  the  Gate  of  Heaven.  It  is 
certainly  an  highway  of  walking  with  God  in  this  world,  and  as 
fweet  communion  may  a  foul  enjoy  with  him  in  his  providence,  as 
in  any  of  his  ordinances.  How  often  have  the  hearts  of  its  obfer- 
vers  been  melted  into  tears  of  joy,  at  the  beholding  of  its  wife  and 
unexpedled  produtlions !  how  often  hath  it  convinced  them,  upon 
a  fober  recolleftion  of  the  events  of  their  lives,  that  if  the  Lord  had 
left  them  to  their  own  counfels,  they  had  as  often  been  their  own 
tormentors,  if  not  executioners !  Into  what,  and  how  many  fatal  mif- 
chiefs  had  they  precipitated  themfelves,  if  Providence  had  been  as 
fhort-fighted  as  they  !  they  have  given  it  their  hearty  thanks,  for 
confidering  their  intereft  more  than  their  importunity,  and  not  fuf- 
fering  them  to  perifli  by  their  own  d^fires."  [Flavel  on  Provi- 
dence, page  1 1,  12.3 


GENERAL    IMPROVEMENTr         ^6^ 

gether,  the  nearer  they  come  to  their  common  end,  and  all 
at  length  difcharge  thenifclves  at  one  mouth  into  the  fame 
ocean.  The  different  ftreams  of  this  river  are  apt  to  ap- 
pear confufed  to  us,  becaufe  of  the  limited  nature  of  our 
fight,  whereby  we  cannot  fee  the  whole  at  once,  nor  dif- 
cover  how  they  unite  in  one.  Their  courfe  feems  very 
crooked,  and  diiFerent  ftreams  feem  to  run  for  a  while  dif- 
ferent and  contrary  ways :  and  if  we  view  things  at  a  dif- 
tance,  there  feem  to  be  innumerable  obflacles  and  impedi- 
ments in  the  way  cf  their  ever  uniting,  and  coming  to  the 
ocean,  as  rocks,  mountains,  and  the  like  ;  but  yet  if  we  trace 
them,  they  all  unite  at  laft,  difgorging  themfelves  in  one 
into  the  fame  great  ocean. 

5.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  infer,  that  the  fcrip- 
tures  are  the  word  of  God,  becaufe  they  alone  inform  us 
what  is  Gcd's  defign  in  all  thcfe  works.  It  is  mofl  reafon- 
able  to  fuppofe,  that  theie  is  fome  certain  fcheme  to  which 
Providence  fubordinates  all  the  great  fucceffive  changes  in 
the  affairs  of  mankind  ;  that  all  revolutions,  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  are  confpiring  to 
bring  to  pafs  that  great  event  which  the  great  Creator  and 
Governor  of  the  world  has  ultimately  in  view  ;  and  that 
the  plan  will  not  be  finiilied,  nor  the  ultimate  event  fully 
accoraplillied,  till  the  end  of  the  world. 

Now  there  is  nothing  eife  that  informs  us  what  this 
fcheme  and  defign  of  God  in  his  works  is,  but  only  the 
holy  fcripture.  Nothing  elfe  pretends  to  fet  in  view  the 
whole  Icries  of  God's  works  of  providence  from  beginning 
to  end,  and  to  inform  us  how  all  things  were  from  God 
at  firfl,  and  to  what  end  they  fhall  be  brought  at  laft,— 
Nothing  but  the  fcripture  fets  forth  how  God  governed 
the  world  from  the  beginning,  in  an  orderly  hiftory  ;  or 
how  he  will  govern  it  to  the  end,  by  an  orderly  prophecy 
of  future  events:  agreeable  to  the  challenge  which  the 
•God  of  Ifrael  makes  to  the  gods,  and  prophets,  and  teach- 
ers of  the  heathen.  [Ifa.  xli.  22,  23]  '  Let  them,  bring 
'  them  forth,  and  fliew  us  what  Ihall  happen  :  let  them 
'  iliew  the  former  things  what  they  be,  that  we  may  con- 
'  lldcr  theni,  and  know  the  latter  end  of  them:  or  declare 

4  C  2  *  us 


564        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

*  us  things  for  to  come.     Shew  the  things  that  are  to  come 

*  hereafter,  that  we  may  know  that  ye  are  gods.' 

It  feems  very  fit  and  requifite,  that  the  rational  part  of 
the  creation  fhould  know  fomething  of  God's  fcheme  and 
defign  in  his  works:  for  they  doubtlefs  are  the  beings 
principally  concerned  in  them  ;  efpecially  feeing  God  has 
given  them  reafon,  and  a  capacity  of  feeing  him  in  his 
works  :  for  this  end,  that  they  may  give  him  the  glory  of 
them.  But  how  can  they  glorify  God  in  his  works,  if  they 
know  nothins  of  his  defifins  ?  And  this  feems  farther  rea- 
fonable,  becaufe  they  are  made  capable  of  a6lively  falling 
in  with  and  pronouncing  that  defign,  ailing  herein  as  his 
friends  and  fubje6ls  ;  it  is  therefore  reafonable  to  fuppofe, 
that  God  has  given  mankind  fonie  revelation  to  inform 
them  of  this :  but  there  is  nothing  elfe  that  does  it,  but  the 
Bible.  In  that  we  may  learn  the  firft  original  of  things, 
and  an  orderly  account  of  the  fcheme  of  God's  works  from 
the  beginning,  through  ages  beyond  the  reach  of  all  other 
hiftories.  Here  we  are  told  what  is  the  grand  end  that  God 
purpofes,  and  the  great  things  he  defires  to  exhibit.  Here 
we  have  an  account  of  thefe  worthy  of  God,  and  the  glory 
of  his  perfevStions. 

Here  we  learn  the  conne6lions  of  the  various  parts  of 
the  work  of  Providence,  in  a  regular,  "beautiful,  and  glo- 
rious frame,  and  have  an  account  of  the  whole  fcheme  of 
Providence,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  end  of 
it,  either  in  hiftory  or  prophecy,  and  how  they  iflue  in 
the  fubduing  of  God's  enemies,  and  in  the  falvation  and 
glory  of  his  church,  and  erecting  the  everlafting  kingdom 
of  his  Son. 

How  rational,  ufeful,  and  excellent  a  book  is  the  Bible, 
and  what  charadters  it  bears  of  being  a  divine  revelation  ! 
a  book,  without  which,  we  fhould  be  left  in  miferable 
dafknefs  and  confufjon. 

6.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  glorious 
majefty  and  power  of  God  in  this  affair  of  redemption.— - 
His  power  appears  in  upholding  his  church  for  fo  long  a 
time,  and  carrying  on  this  work  ;  preferving  it  oftentimes 
when  it  was  but  as  a  little  fpark  of  fire,  or  as  fmoaking 

fkx, 


GENERAL    IMPROVEMENT.         565 

flax,  in  which  the  fire  was  ahnoft:  extindl.  Yet  God  has 
never  fufFercd  it  to  be  quenched,  but  will  bring  forth  judg- 
ment unto  vidlorv.  God  glorifies  his  ftrength  in  his 
cliurcli's  weaknefs  ;  in  caufjng  his  people,  who  are  but  like 
little  infants,  finally  to  triumph  over  all  earth  and  hell ; 
fb  that  they  fhall  tread  on  the  lion  and  adder  ;  the  young 
lion  and  dragon  fhall  they  trample  under  foot.  [Pf.  xci.  13.] 
The  power  of  God  appears  alio  in  conquering  his  many 
and  mighty  enemies  by  that  Jefus  who  was  once  an  infant 
in  a  manger,  and  afterwards  a  poor,  weak,  defpifed  man; 
yet  he  conquered,  and  triumphed  over  them  in  their  own 
weapon,  the  crofs. 

God's  power  glorioufly  appears  in  conquering  Satan 
when  exalted  in  his  flrongefl:  and  moll:  potent  heathen 
kingdom,  the  Roman  empire.  Chrift,  our  Michael,  has 
overcome  him,  and  the  devil  was  call  out,  and  there  was 
found  no  more  place  for  him  in  heaven  ;  but  he  was  caft 
out  unto  the  earth,  and  his  angels  with  him.  Again,  his 
power  glorioufly  appears  in  conquering  him  in  his  proud, 
fubtle,  and  above  all  cruel,  antichriftian  kingdom ;  par- 
ticularly in  Satan's  moft  violent  exertions  juft  before  its 
final  fall. 

The  mighty  kingdoms  of  Antichrift  and  Mahomet, 
which  have  made  fuch  a  figure  tor  many  ages  together, 
and  have  trampled  the  world  under  foot,  when  Chrift  ap- 
pears, will  vanilh  away  like  a  lliadow,  or  as  the  darknefs 
in  a  room  does,  when  the  light  is  brought  in.  What 
arc  God's  enemies  in  his  hands?  How  is  their  greatefl 
ftrength  weaknefs  when  he  raifes  up  !  and  how  weak  will 
they  all  appear  together  at  the  day  of  judgment  !  Thus 
we  may  apply  thofe  words  in  the  long  of  Mofes.  [Exod. 
XV.  6.]  '  Thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  is  become  glorious  in 
'  power  :  thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  hath  dallied  in  pieces  the 
*  enemy.'  And  how  great  doth  the  majerty  of  God  ap- 
pear in  overturning  the  world  from  time  to  time,  to  ac- 
complifh  his  defigns,  and  at  laft  in  caufing  the  earth  and 
heavens  to  fiee  away,  for  the  advancement  of  vhc  glory  of 


his  kingdom  ! 


7.  From 


566        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

"J.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  glorious 
wifdom  of  God.  This  wifdom  appears  in  creating  the 
world  for  fo  great  and  important  ends;  in  bringing  fo 
great  good  out  of  fuch  evil,  in  making  the  fall  and  ruin 
of  mankind,  which  in  itfelf  is  fo  lamentable,  an  occafion  of 
efPedting  fuch  a  glorious  work  as  this  of  redemption,  and  of 
bringing  his  elecl  to  a  ftate  of  fuch  unfpeakable  happinefs. 
How  doth  the  wifdom  of  God  appear  alfo  in  the  long  fe- 
ries  of  revolutions  which  take  place  in  the  world,  in  bring- 
ing fuch  order  of  confufion,  in  fo  fruftrating  the  devil, 
and  turning  all  his  fubtle  machinations  to  God's  glory, 
and  the  honour  of  his  Son  Jefus  Chriil:  ;  and  in  cauiing  the 
greateft  works  of  Satan  to  be  wholly  turned  into  occa- 
fions  of  glorious  triumph  of  the  great  Redeemer  !  How 
wonderful  is  the  wifdom  of  God,  in  bringing  all  things 
to  fuch  a  glorious  period  at  laft,  and  in  fo  dire6ling  all 
the  wheels  of  providence  by  his  fkilful  hand,  ihat  every 
one  of  them  confpires  as  the  manifold  wheels  of  a  moft 
curious  machine,  at  laft  to  flrike  out  fuch  an  excellent  if- 
fue,  fuch  a  manifeftacion  of  the  divine  glory,  fuch  happi- 
nefs to  his  people,  and  fuch  a  glorious  and  everlafting  king- 
dom to  his  Son ! 

8.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  liability 
of  God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs  to  his  people;  that  he 
never  forfakes  his  inheritance,  and  remembers  his  cove- 
nant to  them  through  all  generations.  Now  we  may  fee  the 
truth  of  our  text,    '  The  moth   Hiall  eat  them  up  like  a 

*  garment,  and  the   worm   ftiall  cat   them  like  wool ;  but 

*  my  righteoufnefs  fliall  endure  for  ever  and  ever,  and  my 

*  falvation  from  generation  to  generation.'  And  now  we 
may  difcover  the  propriety  of  that  name  by  which  God  re- 
veals himfelf    unto   Mofes.   [Exod.  iii.   14.]     '  And  God 

*  faid  unto  Mofes,  /  am  that  I  am:''  i.  e.  I  am  the  fame 
that  I  was  when  I  entered  into  covenant  with  Abraham, 
Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  ever  rtiall  be  the  fame  ;  I  keep  co- 
venant for  ever ;  I  am  felf-fufficient,  all-fufficient,  and 
immutable. 

And  now  we  may  fee  the  truth  of  that  word,  [Pfa. 
xxxvi.  5,  6.]     *  Thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  is  in  the  heavens; 

*  and 


GENERAL    IMPROVEMENT.  567 

«  and  thy  faithfulnefs   reaclicth   unto  the   clouds.— Thy 
«  ri^iteoufnefs  is  like  the  great  mountahis;  thy  judgments 
«  arc  a  -reat  deep.'     And   if  we  conhder  what  has  been 
faid,  welieed  not  wonder  that  the  Pfalmift,  in  the  cxxxvith 
Pfalm,    fo   often  repeats  this,    For  his  mercy  endureth  for 
ever-  as  if  he  were  in  an  ecftacy  at  the  confideration  of  the 
perpetuity  of  God's  mercy  to  his  church,  and  delighted 
to  repeat  it.     Let  us  with  like  pleafure  and  joy  celebrate 
the  everlafting  duration  of  God's  mercy  and  faithfulneis^to 
his  church  and  people,  and  let  us  be  comforted  by  it  unuer 
the    prefent  dark   circumftances  of   the  church  of    God, 
and  all  the  uproar   and  confufions  that  are  m  the  world. 
And  let  us  take  encouragement  earneftly  to  pray  for  thofe 
glorious  things  which  God  has  promifed  to  accompli^  tor 
his  church. 

9.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  happy  a  fociety  the  church 
of  Chrift  is.  For  all  this  great  work  was  for  their  lakes 
both  undertaken  and  carried  on  ;  even  becaufe  he  has 
loved  them  with  an  everlafting  love.  For  their  fakes  he 
overturns  ftates  and  kingdoms.  For  their  fakes  he  fliakes 
heaven  and  earth.  He  gives  men  for  them,  and  people 
for  their  life.  [See  lia.  xliii.  4-1  Since  they  have  been  pre- 
cious in  God's  fight,  they  have  been  honourable  ;  and 
therefore  he  firft  gives  the  blood  of  his  own  Son  to  them, 
and  then,  for  their  fakes,  gives  the  blood  of  all  their  ene- 
mies. For  their  fakes  he  made  the  world,  and  for  their 
fakes  he  will  deftroy  it:   (p)  for  their  fakes  he  built  heaven, 

and 

(p)  The  DESTRUCTION  of  the  World.-]  "  If  one  fhould  now  go 
about  to  reprefei.t  the  world  on  fire,  with  all  the  confufions  that 
ncceffarily  muft  be  in  nature  and  in  mankind  upon  that  occafion, 
it  would  feem  to  moft  men  a  romantic  fcene  ;  yet  we  are  fure  there 
muft  be  fuch  a  fcene  :  the  heavens  will  pafs  away  with  a  noile, 
and  the  elements  will  melt  with  fervent  heat,  and  all  the  works  ot 
the  earth  will  be  burnt  up.  We  think  it  a  great  matter  to  fee  a 
fino-le  perfon  burnt  alive  ;  here  are  millions  Hirieking  in  the  hames 
at  once.  It  is  frightful  to  us  to  look  upon  a  great  city  in  flames, 
and  to  fee  the  diftraaions  and  mlfery  of  the  people  ;  here  is  an  uni- 
verfal  fire  through  all  the  cities  of  the  earth,  and  an  univerial  mal- 
facre  of  their  inhabitants.     Whatfoever  the  prophets  foretold  ot  the 

delolations 


568        HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

and  for  their  fakes  he  makes  his  angels  miniftering  fpirits, 
Therefore  the  apoftle  fays,  [i   Cor.  iii.  21,  &c.]     '  Ail 

*  things  are  yours :  whether  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas, 

*  or  the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or  things  prefent  or 
'  things  to  come;  all  are  yours.'  How  blefled  is  this 
people  who  are  redeemed  from  among  men,  and  are  the 
tirfi;  fruits  unto  God,  and  to  the  Lamb  ;  who  have  God  in 
all  ages  for  their  proteiflion  and  help  !  [Deut.  xxxiii.  29.] 
'   Happy  art  thou,    O   Ifrael :    who   is  like   unto  thee,  O 

*  people  faved  by  the  Lord,  the  fhield  of  thy  help,  and 
'  who  is  the  fvvord,  thy  excellency  !    and  thine   enemies 

*  fliall  be  found  liars  unto  thee,  and  thou  flialt  tread  upon 

*  their  high  places.' 

Let 

defolations  of  Judea,  Jerufalem,  or  Babylon,  [Ifa.  xxiv.  Jer.  li.' 
Lament.]  in  the  liigheft  ftrains,  is  more  than  literally  accomplifiied 
in  this  laft  and  general  calamity  ;  and  thofe  only  that  are  fpec- 
tators  of  it,  can  make  its  hillory.  But  it  is  not  poffible  from  any 
ttation,  to  have  a  full  profpeft  of  this  laft  fcene  of  the  earth  ;  for 
it  is  a  mixture  of  fire  and  darknefs.  This  new  temple  is  filled  w  ith 
fmoke,  while  it  is  confecrating,  and  none  can  enter  into  it.  But 
I  am  apt  to  think,  if  we  could  look  down  upon  this  burning  world 
from  above  the  clouds,  and  have  a  full  view  of  it,  in  all  its  parts, 
we  fiiould  think  it  a  lively  reprefentation  of  Hell  itfelf.  For  fire 
and  darknefs  are  the  two  chief  things  by  which  that  ftate,  or  that 
place,  ufcs  to  be  defcribed ;  and  they  are  both  here  mingled  to- 
gether, with  all  other  ingredients  that  make  that  Tophet  that  is 
prepared  of  old.  [Ifa.  xxx.]  Here  are  lakes  of  fire  and  brimftone  ; 
rivers  of  melted  glowing  matter ;  ten  thoufand  volcano's  vomit- 
ing flames  all  at  once  ;  thick  darknefs,  and  pillars  of  fmoke  twift- 
cd  about  with  wreaths  of  flame,  like  fiery  fnakes ;  mountains,  of 
earth  thrown  up  into  the  air,  and  the  heavens  dropping  down  ia 
lumps  of  fire.  Thefe  things  will  be  all  literally  true,  concerning 
that  day,  and  that  ftate  of  the  earth.  And  if  wc  fuppofe  Beelze- 
bub, and  his  apoftcite  crew,  in  the  midft  of  this  fiery  furnace  (and 
I  know  not  where  they  can  be  elfe  ;)  it  will  be  hard  to  find  any 
part  of  the  univerfe,  or  any  ftate  of  things,  that  cinfwers  to  fo 
many  of  the  properties  and  charafters  of  Helh  as  this  which  is 
now  before  us.  But  if  we  fuppofe  the  ftorm  over,  and  that  the 
fire  hath  got  an  entire  viftory  over  all  other  bodies,  and  fubdued 
every  thing  to  itfelf;  the  conflagration  will  end  in  a  deluge  of  fire, 
or  in  a  fea  of  fiie,  covering  the  whole  globe  of  the  earth.  But  let 
us  only,  to  take  leave  of  this  fubjeft,  refledl  upon  this  occafion,  on 
the  vanity  and  tranfient  glory  of  all  this  habitable  world  ;  how,  by 
the  force  of  one  clement  breaking  loofe  iij5on  the  reft,  all  the  va- 
rieties 


GENERAL     IMPROVEMENT.         569 

Let  the  enemies  of  the  church  exalt  themfelves  as  much 
as  they  will,  thefe  are  the  people  that  fhall  finally  prevail. 
The  laft  kingdom  fhall  be  theirs;  and  Ihall  not  be  left 
to  other  people.  [See  Dan.  ii.  44.]  We  have  feen  what 
a  bleflbd  ifTue  things  fhall  finally  be  brought  to  as  to  tlicm, 
and  what  glory  they  fliall  arrive  at,  and  remain  in  pofTef- 
fion  of,  for  ever  and  ever,  after  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world  are  come  to  an  end,  and  the  earth  is  removed,  and 
4  D  mountain^ 

rieties  of  nature,  all  the  wonders  of  art,  all  the  labours  of  men 
are  reduced  to  nothing  ;  all  that  we  admired  and  adored  before, 
as  great  and  magnificent,  is  obliterated,  or  vaniiTied  ;  and  another 
form  and  face  of  things,  plain,  fimple,  and  every  where  the  fame, 
ovcrfpreads  the  whole  earth.  Where  are  now  the  great  empires 
of  the  world,  and  their  great  imperial  cities  ?  their  pillars,  tro- 
phies, and  monuments  of  glory  ?  Shew  me  where  they  flood,  read 
the  infcription,  tell  me  the  victor's  name.  What  remains,  what 
impreffions,  what  difference  or  diflinftion  do  you  fee  in  this  mafs 
of  fire  ?  Rome  itfelf,  eternal  Rome,  the  great  city,  the  emprefs 
of  the  world,  whofe  domination  and  fuperftition,  ancient  and  mo- 
dern, make  a  great  part  of  the  hiftory  of  this  earth  ;  what  is  be- 
come of  her  now  ?  She  laid  her  foundations  deep,  and  her  palaces 
were  ftrong  and  fumptuous  :  She  glorified  hcrfelf,  and  lived  dcli- 
cioully,  and  faid  in  her  heart,  I  fit  a  queen,  and  fnall  fee  no  for- 
row.  But  her  hour  is  come,  fhe  is  wiped  away  from  the  face  of 
the  earth,  and  buried  in  perpetual  oblivion.  But  it  is  not  cities 
only,  and  works  of  men's  hands,  but  the  everlafting  hills,  the 
mountains  and  rocks  of  the  earth,  are  melted  as  wax  before  the 
fun  ;  and  their  place  is  no  where  found. 

[*'  The  cloud-capt  towers,  the  gorgeous  palaces, 

The  folcmn  temples,  the  great  globe  itfelf, 

Yea  all  which  it  inherits  fhall  diffolve. 

And  like  the  bafelefs  fabric  of  a  vifion 

Leave  not  a  wreck  behind." 

Shakespeare.] 
"  Here  flood  the  Alps,  a  prodigious  range  of  ftone,  the  load  of 
the  earth,  that  covered  many  countries,  and  reached  their  arms 
from  the  ocean  to  the  Black  Sea  ;  this  huge  mafs  of  ftcnc  is  fof- 
tened  and  difFolved,  as  a  tender  cloud,  into  rain.  Kere  flood  the 
African  mountains,  and  Atlas  with  his  top  above  the  clouds.  There 
was  frozen  Cancafus,  and  Taurus,  and  Imaus,  and  the  mountains 
of  Afia.  And  yonder  towards  the  north,  flood  the  Ripha;an  hills, 
cloathcd  in  ice  and  fnow.  All  thefe  are  vanifhed,  dropped  away 
as  the  fnow  upon  their  heads,  and  fwallowed  up  in  a  red  fea  of 
fire.  [Rev.  xv.  3.]  Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works.  Lord 
God  Almighty  ;  jiill  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King-  of  Saints. 
Hallelujah." 


570        HISTORY   OF   REDEMPTION. 

mountains  are  carried  into  the  depth  of  the  fea,  or  where 
the  fea  was,  and  this  lower  eartli  iliall  all  be  diffolved.  O 
Jiappy  people,  nnd  blefled  fociety  !  Well  may  they  fpend 
an  eternity  in  praifes  and  hallelujahs  to  him  who  hath 
loved  them  from  eternity,  and  will  love  them  to  eter- 
nity. ((>^) 

lO.  And,  laflly,  hence  all  wicked  men,  all  that  are  in 
Chriftlcfs  condition,  may  fee  their  exceeding  mifery. — 
You  that  are  fuch,  have  no  part  or  lot  in  this  matter  : 
you  are  never  the  better  for  any  of  thole  things  of  which 
you  have  heard  ;  but  your  guilt  is  fo  much  the  greater, 
and  the  mifery  you  are  expofed  to  the  more  dreadful.  You 
are  fome  of  thofe  againft  whom  God,  in  the  progrefs  of 
the  work,  exercifes  fo  much  manifeft  wrath ;  fome  of 
thofe  enemies  who  are  liable  to  be  made  Chrifl's  footftool, 
to  be  ruled  vvith  a  rod  of  iron,  and  to  be  dalhed  in  pieces. 
You  are  fome  of  the  feed  of  the  ferpent,  to  bruife  the  head 
of  which  is  one  great  defign  of  all  this  work.  What- 
ever glorious  things  God  accomplilhes  for  his  church,  if 
you  continue  in  the  ftate  you  are  now  in,  they  will  not 
be  glorious  to  you.  The  mod  glorious  times  of  the 
church  are  always  the  mofc  difmal  times  to  the  wicked 
and  impenitent.  And  v.'herever  glorious  things  are  foretold 
concerning  the  church,  there  terrible  things  are  predidled 
of  the  wicked.  Its  enemies.  [See  Ifa.  Ixvi.  14.]  And  fo 
it  ever  has  been  In  facl ;  in  all  remarkable  deliverances 
wrou^^ht  for  the  church,  there  has  been  as  reiViarkablc  an 

execution 

(  Q^)  The  felicity  o/Keaven.]  One  of  the  moft  beautiful  ideas 
that  the  fcripture  gives  us  of  the  glory  of  heaven  is,  that  it  fhall 
confill  in  the  fig-ht  and  enjoyment  of  the  deity  in  the  perfon  of  Jefus 
Chrift.  "  Grand  idea  of  heavenly  felicity,  my  brethren!  Glorified 
believers  fhall  fee  with  their  eyes  the  glorious  body  of  Jefus  ChrilU 
What  joy  to  contemplate  this  objeft!  What  delight,  if  I  may  fpeak 
fo,  when  the  rays  of  the  deity,  always  too  bright  and  confounding 
for  mortal  eyes  to  behold,  fiiall  be  foftcned  to  our  fight  in  the  per- 
fon of  Jefus  Chrift!  What  tranfporting  joy  to  fee  the  grcateft  mi- 
racle that  was  ever  included  in  the  plans  of  the  wifdom  of  Godf 
What  felicity  to  behold  in  the  body  of  Jefus  Chrift  a  right  of  ap- 
proaching with  confidence  to  a  familiarity  with  God!  '  Wc  know 
that,  when  he  fliall  appear,  we  Ihall  be  like  him,  for  we  Jhall  fee 
him  as  he  is."     i  John  iii.  2.     [Saurin's  Scr.  XII.  vol.  iii.] 


GENERAL     IMPROVEMENT.         571 

execution  of  wrath  on  its  enemies.  Thus,  when  God 
delivered  the  children  of  Ifracl  out  of  Egypt,  he  poured 
out  his  wrath  on  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians.  So  when 
he  brought  them  into  Canaan  by  Jofhua,  and  gave  them 
that  good  land,  he  remarkably  executed  wrath  upon  the 
Canaanites.  When  they  were  delivered  out  of  their  Baby- 
lonifli  captivity,  fignal  vengeance  was  infiifted  on  the  Ba- 
bylonians. So  when  the  Gentiles  were  called,  and  the 
ele6t  of  God  were  faved  by  the  preaching  of  the  apoftles, 
Jerufalem  and  the  perfecuting  Jews  were  deftroyed  in  a 
mofl:  awful  manner.  I  might  obferve  the  fame  concerning 
the  glory  accomplillied  to  the  church  in  the  days  of  Con- 
flantine,  at  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  viiible  kingdom  in  the 
downfall  of  antichriA:,  and  at  the  day  of  judgment.  In  all 
thefe  inftances,  and  efpecially  in  the  lail,  there  have  been, 
or  will  be,  exhibited  moft  awful  tokens  of  the  divine  wrath 
againfc  the  wicked. 

You  are  indeed  fomc  of  thofe  that  God  will  make  ufe 
of  in  tliis  affair;  but  it  will  be  for  the  glory  of  his 
juftice  (r)  and  not  of  his  mercy.     The  enemies  of  God 

iliall 

(r)  God  imU  make  life  of  fome  Jintiers  to  dfplay  his  Justice.] 
This  alludes  to  the  dotlrine  of  reprobation,  which  is  neither  more 
nor  lefs  than  the  neceffary  confequence  of  eleftion  ;  for  if,  out  of 
a  world  of  finners  God  clefts  a  part  to  everlafting  life,  the  remain- 
der mr.ft  be  left  to  the  confequences  of  their  own  fin.  Tlifs  note 
is  not  intended  to  difcufs  the  truth  of  that  doftrine,  but  only  to 
offer  a  few  hints  with  a  view  of  obviating,  in  fome  meafure  the 
force  of  a  popular  o'ojeflion. 

It  is  commonly  faid  that  this  fuppofition  involves  the  damnation 
of  a  great  inajoriiy  of  the  human  fpccics;  but  this  we  apprehend  a 
vulgar  miftake.  In  the  fird  place  we  admit  the  falvation  of  all 
infants,  dying  before  tliey  attain  the  proper  exercife  of  their  rea- 
fon,  vidiich  are  of  tliemfclves  fuppofed  the  greater  half  of  mankind; 
to  which  we  add  ideots,  who  are  as  to  their  mental  powers  exadlly 
in  the  fame  fituation.  We  hope,  moreover,  that  God  has  in  all 
ages  and  nations  been  pleafed  to  form  to  himfelf  a  people  (though 
known  only  to  himfelf)  who  are  enabled  to  '  ftar  God  and  work 
*  rightcoufncfs  ;'  for  we  think  that  the  heathens  who  never  liad  the 
advantage  of  a  written  revelation,  claim  our  charity  far  beyond  the 
Chriftian  world  (fo  called)  who  neglod  or  defpifc  it.  [Sec  note  z, 
p.  514.]  We  believe  that  in  the  woriHlate  ol"  religion  among  its 
profeflbrs,  God  rcicrved  to  himfelf  thoufands  offincere  worfhippers, 

-)-  D  3  [See 


572         HISTORY    OF    REDEMPTION. 

fhall  be  referved  for  the  triumph  of  Chrift's  glorious  power 
in  overcoming  and  puniihing  them,  and  fliall  be  confumed 
with  this  accurfed  world  after  the  day  of  judgment,  when 
Ctirift  arid  his  church  ihall  triumphantly  and  glorioufly 
afcend  to  heaven.  Therefore  let  all  that  are  in  a  Chriftlefs 
condition  a;r!ongfl:  us  feriouily  confider  thefe  things,  and 
not  be  like  the  foolifli  people  of  the  old  world,  who  would 
not  take  warning,  when  Noah  told  them  that  the  Lord 
was  about  to  bring  a  flood  of  waters  upon  the  earth ;  or 
like  the  people  of  Sodom,  who  would  not  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  coime,  and  fo  were  confumed  in  that  terrible  de- 
ftruciion.    (s) 

And 

[See  note  l,  p.  62.]  Add  thefe  to  the  millions  of  faithful  martyrs, 
and  the  more  innumerable  multitudes  that  have,  or  will  form  the 
church  of  God  in  all  ages;  and  the  objection  in  great  meafure,  at 
lead,  vanifhes.  But  if  we  extend  our  thoughts  to  higher  worlds  ; 
if  we  include  the  thoufands  of  thoufands  of  angelic  fpirits  that 
wait  on  God's  immediate  prefence,  or  execute  the  orders  of  his 
throne;  if  we  allow  ourfelves  to  venture  fo  far  into  the  modern 
philofophy,  as  to  fuppofe  that  other  planets  may  be  inhabited  as 
well  as  ours — and  that  the  fixed  ftars  may  be  funs  to  other  fyftems 
of  habitable  globes — who  can  tell  but  there  may  be  as  many  worlds, 
m^y  Jv/Iems  of  worlds,  of  innocent  and  happy  intelligent  creatures, 
as  mifcrable  and  guilty  individuals?  [G.  E.] 

(s)  JLeiJinners  take  v/arning.]  We  Hiall conclude  thefe  notes 
With  the  following  animated  paffage,  from  a  fermon  preached  on 
cccafion  of  the  earthquakes  in  London,  1749.  "  So  impreft  do  I 
find  my  mind  with  the  weight  and  moment  of  eternal  things,  that 
I  could,  methinks,  wifli  I  had  a  voice  that  would  reach  as  far  as 

this  noife  and  convulfion  did  :  and  if  I  had, I  would  repre- 

fent,  that  if  the  convulfion  of  an  earthquake  is  fo  dreadful,  how 
dreadful  that  fcene  mud  be,  when  all  things  fhall  be  diffolved; 
the  heavens  pafs  away  with  a  great  noife,  and  the  elements  melt 
with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  and  the  things  that  are  thereon,  not 
only  fiiaken,  but  burnt  up. — I  would  reprefent  the  horror  and  af- 
frightment  which  will  feize  the  fouls  of  fmners,  when  the  arch- 
angel with  the  trump  of  God  fliall  (hake  the  whole  creation;  when 
they  fhall  call  for  the  rocks  and  mountains  to  fall  upon  them,  and 
the  earth  opening  and  fwallowing  them  up  would  be  a  blefTing,  if 
it  would  hide  them  from  the  wrath  of  God,  and  the  Lamb. — 1 
would  difplay  the  vanity  of  building  on  any  thing  in  this  uncertain 
convulfivc  world,  and  the  wretchednefs  of  the  men  who  have  cho- 
fen  their  portion  in  this  life. — And,  finally,  I  would  hail  every 
faint  and  child  of  God  (every  one  who  b^'  faith  in  Chrifl,  ferious 

religion, 


GENERAL     IMPROVEMENT.         573 

And  now  I  would  conclude  my  difcourfe  in  thefe  words 
from  the  laft  of  the  Revelation :  "  Thefe  fayings  are  faith- 
ful and  true,  and  blcfTcd  is  he  that  keepeth  thefe  fayings. 
Behold,  Chrlil:  cometh  quickly,  and  his  reward  is  with 
him,  to  render  to  every  man  according  as  his  work  fhall 
be.  And  he  that  is  unjuft,  (hall  be  unjuft  Aill  ;  and  he 
that  is  filthy,  Ihall  be  filthy  ftill  ;  and  he  that  is  holy, 
fhall  be  holy  ftill,  Bleffed  are  they  that  do  his  com- 
mandments, that  they  may  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life, 
and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city  :  for 
without  are  dogs,  and  forcerers,  and  whoremongers,  and 
murderers,  and  idolaters,  and  whofoever  loveth  and  ma- 
keth  a  lie.  He  that  teftifieth  thefe  things,  faith,  Surely 
1  come  quickly.  Amen  ;  even  fo  come  Lord  Jefus." 
[Rev.  xxii.  6,  &c.] 

religion,  and  a  good  confcience  towards  God,  can  lay  his  humble 
claim  to  the  promifes  and  hopes  of  the  gofpel)  as  the  happiefl 
among  men.  Such  convulfions  as  thefe  we  have  now  felt,  make  on 
his  mind  reverential  impreffions  of  the  power  and  majefly  of  God  ; 
but  cannot  hurt,  nor  need  they  give  him  any  ilavifh  terror.  His 
God  is  his  refuge  and  llrength,  a  very  prefent  help  in  trouble  ; 
therefore  he  need  not  fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  the 
mountains  be  carried  into  the  midft  of  the  fea  :"  [Pfa.  xlvi.J 
Nay  more, 

*'  Should  the  whole  frame  of  nature  break. 

In  ruin  and  confufion  hurl'd  ; 
He  unconcern'd  might  hear  the  mighty  crack, 
And  Hand  fecure  amidft  a  falling  world." 

[Dr.  Allen's  Ser.  on  defpifing  reproofs.] 


FINIS. 


INDEX. 


•■^t*  The  Articles  referring  to  the  Text  only,  are  diJlinguiJJied  hy 
the  Page;  thfe  to  the  Notes  only,  by  a  Letter  prefixed  to  the 
page;  [as  s  79.  i.  e.  Note  s  page  79,]  thoje  that  refer  to  both  Text 
and  Note  have  the  Letter  added  after  the  Page:  \_as  88  and  x, 
Page  88  and  Note  x.] 


Page. 

.BEL's  facrifice,  s  79 

■ —  his  chara6ler,  —         ib. 

—  his  death,  —  88  &:  x 
Abraham,    Jewifti  tradition  of 

him.  T  126 

—  his  calling,       —     126,  &c. 

—  his  divine  vidon,        140  &  z 

—  pleads  for  Sodom,  c  155 
Achan's  fin  andpunifliment, 

191  &  w 

Adam  and  Eve,  their  nakednefs, 

p  69 

—  their  eyes  opened,  p  70 

—  their  aprons,  what,        f   / 1 

—  their  penitence  andfalvation, 

84&  u 
Age^  how  that  term  is  ufed,  d  46 

See  Cctitury. 
Agony,   Chrilt's,   344,  34c,  & 
p  &   0^ 
Ahaz,  the  fign  given  hiiii,    231 
&  o 

—  his  danger  and  deliverance246 
Alaric  and  his  Goths  c  423 
Alban,  St.  martyred,  s  410 
Alcuin  oppofed  Pcjiery,  s  442 
Alexander's  conqut lis,  285  &,  n 

—  he  f})ares  tlie  Jeu's,  290  &  q^ 
America,  peopling  of,  464  &  k 

ti'nht     _  B  44 

Anabaptift^,  German,  460 

—  Modern  Englifn,  460  &  f 
Angel, Chi-ift  lb  called,  a  199&C. 

See  Ap/earances. 
Angels,  Chrift  their  head,       59 

—  miniftring  fpiritsio  Chrift  66 

—  Redemption  made  known  to 

them,     66  &  o  &c. 

—  condii6led  Abel's  foul  to 
glory         83  &  Y 


Angels,  how   employed    about 

Redemption,     • 357 

Antediluvian  hiflory  concife  I  o  r 

&    K 

Anthony  St.  his  power  over  fire, 

s  488 

Antichrifi:,  who,  f  429 

—  his  kingdom,  428,  429 

—  its  commencement,  430,  43  r 

&    H 

—  its  rife  gradual,  431  &  i 

—  its  h\\,  508 

—  propliecies  concerning,    486 

to  494 
Antiochus  Epiphanes  perfe- 
cutes  the  Jews,  291,  292  &  r 

—  his  death,         —     293  &   t 

AvTTi-J  vy^a.,  — '  R    76 

Apoftai'y,  the  lafi:  grand, 528,  529 
Apoftles,  their  commillion,  278 

—  preached  in  Britain,     0^407 

Appearances  of  Chrift  before 
the  Incarnation  66  &c  n — p  7 1 
—  198,  199  &  A  • 

—  to  Adam,  66  &  n 
— •  to  Abraham,          140,  c  154 

—  to  Jacob,  1 1;  7  &  E 

—  to  Moles,  167  &  I,  198 

—  to  the  feventy  elders,         ib. 

—  to  Jcfluia, ib. 

—  to  Daniel,        271 

Arabians,  coiiverted  by  Origen, 

425,  E  426 
Arius  and  Arianifm,  420  &  x 
Arianifm,  its  revival,  462 

Armada,  the  Spanifh,  452  &  x 
Arminius  and  Arminianifm,  461 
Afcenfion,  Chrift's,  375 

Afs,  Balaam's,  fpake,         s   184 
Athanafius,  St.  and  his  creed, 
X  420 
Attila 


INDEX. 


Attila  and  his  Huns,         c  423 

Aiigultin,  St.  his  converfionand 

writings,  421  &  y 

Auftin  converts  ti:e  Britons,  e 

.      427 


B 


Babel,  its  building  and  deftruc- 
tion,  112  to  118  &  CL 

Babylon's  deftruclion,  273  &  e 

foretold  by   the  Prophets, 

ib. 
Babvlon,  whv  Rome  was  fo 
called,        '  387 

grand  enemy  of  the 

church,  3S7 

BabylonifU  captivity,  260 

cured  the  Jews  of  idolatry, 

261 

prepared  the  way  for 

Chrift,  262 

Balaam's  prophecy,         184  &  s 

his  afs  fpake,  s  184 

Baptifm,  Chrift's,  331 

Chriftian,  inftituted,    379 

Baptift,  John,  Chrift's  fore- 
runner, 329 
His  office  very  honour- 
able,                     330  &H 

Baptifts.     See  Anahaptifls. 

Barbarians,  go fpel  preached  to 

them,  425,  426,  &E 

Beail,  myftical,  his  mark,u  493 

his  image,  f  429 

Beauty  of  the  church  in  the 

Milennium,  525 

Biography,  its  utility,  3 

Birth  of  Chrift,  _         314 

in  the  fulnefs  of  time, 

314,  A  316 

at  Bethlehem,        317  &  e 

Bleffing,  Noah's,  on  Shem, 

p  1 15 
Brainerd,  Mr.  J.  his  million 

among  the  Indians,       l  465 
Brethren,  who  fo  called  by  the 

Hebrews,  p  113 


Britain,  gofpel  preached  here  b\ 
the  apoftles,  Q^407 

Popery   brought  in  by 

Auftin,  F  427 

Bull,   Rev.  Mr.  of  New  Eng- 
land, o  473 

Burgundians,    how    converted, 
425   E  426 


Bufli,  burning, 


167 


Cain,  his  facrificeand  charafter, 
s  80 

Murders  Abel,        88  ^  x 

mark  fet  on  him,         o  99 

Calling    on    the    name  of  the 
Lord,  89  &  z 

Calling  of  Abraham,     1 26,  &c. 
Calves,  golden,  238 

Canaan,  his  crime,  phi 

Canaanites  deftroyed,        p   1 1  3 
Candleftick,    golden,     typical, 
p  233 
Canon  compiled  by  Ezra, 

280  &  I 

—  completed  by  Rlalachi,   285 
Canticles,  book  of,    its   excel- 
lency, 1 7 

—  its  divine  authority,      s  241 
Captivity,  Eabylonifli,  260 
Captives,  feveral   nations   con- 
verted by  means  of,42  5,  e  426 

Celfus,  enemy  of  Chriftianity, 
s   349,   L  401 

Century,  witnefTes  of  the  trutii 
in  every  century,  s  442 

Century,'  the  tenth,  its  charac- 
ter, Jb. 

Children,  feveral  converted  very 
young,  o  47^ 

Chrift,  his  fulnefs  and   glory, 

28 

—  the  head  of  all  things,  59  &  i 

—  begins  to  execute  his  media- 
torial  office,  64,  &c. 

—  the  defire  of  all  nations,  x  257 

—  generally  expefted,  266  &  b 

—  the  grand  fubjeft  of  the 
Bible,  50^ 

Chrift 


INDEX. 


Chrift  appeared  in  the  fecond 
temple,  321 

Chrift,  his  death  an  aft  of  obe- 
dience, 325  &  F 

—  obeyed  and  honoured  the 
law,  326,   328 

—  his  fecond  coming  to  judg- 
ment,        530,  533,  534  &D 

—  takes  his  church  with  him 
from  this  world,   '  545 

—  afcends  with  her  to  the 
higheft  heavens,        55^5  55- 

—  refigns  his  mediatorial  king- 
dom, _  555 

—  has  in  all  things  the  pre- 
eminence, 560 
See  Appearances  and  Jefus. 

Chriftianity    perfecuted     more 

than  other  religions,  480  &  r 

Church  of  Chrift,  its  happinefs, 

44 

wonderfully  preferved,  97, 

482,  484 

her  fufferings  ended,     p8 

Church,  Jewifli,  its  glory  in 
Solomon's  time,  235 

declined  foon  after       237 

this  made  way  for  Chrift"s 

coming,  239,  240 

preferved  when  the  ftate 

declined,  243 

Church's  pro fperity  inConftan- 
tine's  time,  412,  413 

Cneph,  an  idol,  0^7  3 

Colchians  converted  to  Chrifti- 
anity, 423 
Cole,  Dr.  anecdote  of,       p  459 
College  of  prophets,      204  &  c 
Comfort,    fpiritual    fource    of, 
26,27 
Communion,  ftrange  terms  of,  6 
Compafs,  invention  of,         468 
Conception  of  Chrifr,  313 
Conflagration  of  the  world,   544 
p  567 
Confufion  oftongues,  qj20,&;c. 
Conftantine's  vifionand  viftory, 
41 1,  412,  &  u 
Contemplation  on  God's  glory, 

17 


Contemplation  on  the  works  of 

Nature,  i  S 

Converfions,  remarks  in  New 

England,  ^  Al^ 

See  Go/pel. 

Conviftion  of  fin,  28,  29 

Covenant,  rites  of,   among  the 

Hebrews,  z  140 

among  the  Greeks,   z  141 

- — —  am.ongthe  Romans,  z  142 

of  redemption,  50,  5i,&e 

of  grace, 

renewed  with  Noah,    109 

&  o 

with  Abraham,  134 

with  Jacob,  156 

with  David,  219 

Councils,  eccleftaftical,  inftitu- 

tion  of,  383  &■  G 

Crown  of   Judah  preferved  in 

David's  family,  228 

,  that    of    Ifrael     often 

changed,  230 

Crucifixion  of  Ciirift, 347  to  350 

afted  at  Lifbon,         t  491 

Cruelty  of  popery,         454  &  z 

See  Perfecution. 
Curfe,  Canaan's,  p  1 1 1 

Cyrus  permits  the  Jews  to  re- 
turn and  re-build  the  temple, 
274 


D 


Daniel's  prophecies,     255,  285 
&  N 

feventy  weeks,      272  &  d 

vifion  of  goat  and  leopard, 

285  &  N 

Danifh  miiiionaries  in  the  Eaft 
Indies,  468  &  m 
Darknefs,    miraculous    at    the 
crucifixion,  t   349 
David  anointed,             207  &  e 
,  his  life  wonderfully  pre- 
ferved,                       210  &:  H 

,  Ills  Pfalms,  2 1 5 

made  king,  2  1 7 

,  Goil's  covenant  renewed. 

with,  219 

David 


INDEX. 


David  conquered  the  whole 
land  of  Canaan,        2ig,  220 

,  his  character,  m  220 

improved  the  Jewifli  fer- 

vice,  225 

a  type  of  Chrifl,  226 

anc'eftor  of  Chrift,228  &  n 


Domitian,  a  cruel  perfecutor, 

o  404 

Dort,  fynod  of,  461  &  n 

Dragooning  of  the  Proteftants, 
B  456 

Drunk,  Noah,  p  110 


Death  and  dying  words  of  Pref. 

Edwards,  12,   13 

ofChrifl:,  347  to  350 

of    Chrift    and    Socrates 

compared,  y  353 

of  Julian  the  apoftate,  422 

&   z 
of  Rofleau  and    Voltaire, 

P  474 

Deacons  firfl  appointed,       382 

Deaconnefles    in  the  primitive 

church,  F   382 

Deifm,  its  fpread  in   England, 

462,  474  &  p 

Delaware  Indians  defire  the  gof- 

pel,  _  _  w  499 

Delight  in  religion,  19 

Denis,  St.  his  treafury,      t  490 

Defcent,  Chrifl's  into  hell, 

w  350,  B  372 

Defign,  God's   in   redemption, 

60  &  K 

—  of  Chrifl's  Inimillation,    362 
Deftruftion  of  the  church's  ene- 
mies, 104  &  M 

of  Sodom,  ^'c.    15210154 

&c 

Diar\',  extract  from  Mr.  Ed- 
wards's, 24 

Dilficulties  of  an  Indian  miffio- 
nary, '  l  465 

Dionyfius,  the  Areopagite,  297 

&  X 

Difpenfations     of    Providence 

dark  before  Chrift  came,  63, 

82 

Difperfion  of  the  nations,      122 

Divinity  of  Chrift,  a  199 

Do6trines   of  the  gofpel    fully 

revealed  in  the  New  Tefta- 

ment,  380,  381 

— —  of  the  Waldenfes,     t  444 

4E 


Eaftern  idolatry,  u  131 
Edwards,  Pref.  his  birth,  4 
education,  ib. 

-  entrance  on  the  miniftry,  ib. 

appointed   tutor  of  Yale 

college,  ib. 

fixed  at  Northampton,     5 

difference  with  his  church, 

ib. 
his  difmiftion  from  them, 

..  7,  S 
attempts  a  reconciliation, 

8,  9 

appointed   mifuonary    at 

Stockbridge,  12 

appointed  prefident  of  Jer- 

fey  College,  ib. 

his  death,  ib. 

his    dying  words    to   his 

daughter,  1 3 

experience,  14  to  30 

remarks  on,   30,   31 


—  his  delight  in  meditation,   1 7 

thirft  for  holinefs,  20,  25 

delight  in  the  fcripture,  23 

ficknefs,  24 

fenfe  of  union  to  Chrift, 

20  to  26 

conviftion  of  fin,    28,  29 

writes  the  hiftory  of  Re- 
demption, 3 1 

his  ftudy  and  excrcife,   32 

his  charafter,  8,  9,  32,  33 

his  works,  33\34 

his  account  of  the  revival 

of  rehgion  in  New  England, 

470,  471  &o 

Egyptian  idolatry,  u  130 

Empire,  Perfian,  deftroyed,  284 

Empire 


INDEX. 


Empire,  Grecian,  erected,  284, 
285  &  N 

divided,       286  &  o 

deftroyed,  293,  294 

Roman,  erefted,  ib. 

at  its  height,        298 

Encouragement  for  finners,  359, 

360 

End  of  the  world,  meaning  of 

that  phrafe,  363,   364 

Enemies,  the  church's  fliall  pe- 

rifli,  43,  44,  56,  57,  104  &  M 

England,  perfecution  here, 

410  &  s,  457 
See  Britain. 
Enoch's  charaifler,  92  &  a 

■  prophecy,  93  &  b 

tranilation,  95   &  c 

Enoch,  pretended  book  of,  b  94 
H  100 
Enthnfiafts  hurt  rehgion, 

460  &  G 
Eternity,  contemplation  of, 

N  554 

of  hell  torments,  546  &  k 

Events,  typical,  of  Chrift's  2d 

ccrming,  367,   369 

Eve's  hope  of  Cain,  vv  86 

See  Adam. 
Eunuch,  his  converfion,  u  250 
Eyes  opened,  what,  p  70 

Ezra's  commiffion  from  Baby- 
lon, 277 
—  expounds  the  law,     278  &  h 

book  of,  279 

Expence  of  popery,  m  434,  435 
Ezekiel's  prophecy,  270 


Faith,  modern  popifli,  0^476 
Fall  of  Man,  64 
ruins  of,  God's  defign  to 

reftore,  57,  58  &  h 

Fall  of  Antichrifi:  gradual,     498 

the  work  of  God,    499 

Falfe  Chrifts  before  Jerufalem's 

deftruftion,  i   398 

Favin,  Is.  martyr,  b  456 

Fees  of  the  Pope's  chancery, 

M    434 


Flood,  Noah's,  102  to  104  A:  m 
Forbearance,  God's,  65  &  m 
For-tver^  its  import,  46  &  d 
Folly  of  inattentive  reading  the 

fcriptures,  308 
France,  converfion  of,  F  427 
Frank,  ProfefTor,  469,  470  &n 
Frogs,  unclean  fpirits,  503 
Fi-umentius  preaches  in  India, 
425,  F  426 
Fulfilment  of  prophecies,  485, 
&c. 
as   to  the  prefervation  of 

the  church,  485 
as  to  Antichrift,       486  to 

494 

Fulgentius,  his  timidity,   n  436 

Future  ftate  revealed  under  the 

Old  Teftament,  96 

fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  how 

it  may  probably   be  accom- 
pliflied,  500,   501  &  \T 


Gemara  and  Mifhna,  quoted,  r 

348 
Genealogy,  the  Virgin  Mary's 
228  &  N 
Genferic  and  the  Vandalls, 
c  423 
Georgia,  orphan  houfe  at,  o  473 
Giants,  what,  h   100 

Glauca  hall,  469,  470  &  n 

Glory,  Redemption  completed 

in,'  532 

See  Heaven. 
Gnoftics,  their  herefy,     d  424 
God  the  A  and  n  in  Redemption 

558,  559 

Gog  and  Magog,  army  of,    529 

Gofpel  revealed  to  the  angels, 

o  67  to  70 

to  Adam,       69  to  75  &  p 


its  fuccefs  in  the  apoftolic 
times,  —         388,  &c. 

among  the  Jews,  389,  390 

arnong  the  Samaritans,39 1 

among  the  Gentiles,    392, 

394 

means  of  falvation,      413 

Gofpel, 


INDEX. 


Gofpel,  its  fiiccefs,  owing  to  a 
divine  power,         —        417 

foretold,       418 

among  the  Barbarians,  425, 

426  &  E 

means  of,  e  426 

in  the  Indies,  425 

in  Ireland,  426 

in  Britain,  Qs.407 

in  Scotland,  w  499 

among  the  American  In- 


dians,      463,  464,  L  466,  w 
497,  &c. 

oppofitlon  to  it,  proves  its 

divinity,     479,  &:c. 

fuccefs  of,   fince  the  Re- 
formation, 462,  &:c. 

in  Miifcovy,         -         ib. 

in  America,       0471,473 


Goths  converted  to  Chriltianity, 
425,  E   426 

Grace  triumphant  over  guilt, 
57  2c  G 

Grant  of  the  earth  to  Noah,  108 

Grecians,  foreign  Jews,  269,&c. 

Greek  language  general,       287 

prepared  the  way  for  pro- 
pagating the  gofpel,  288 

^tranllation  of  Old  Tefta- 

ment,  288,  289,  &  p 

Gregory  XIII.  his  impiety  a  455 

H 

Haggai's  prophecy,  277  &:  g 
Hall,  Rev.  Mr.  letter  to,  10 

Haman,    Jews  delivered  from, 
282,  &  L 
Ham's  crime  and  curfe,      p  1 10 

—  pofterity,         PI14 

Hannibal's  exclamation,  P113 
Haran's  pretended  death,  p  1 2  7 
Head  of  all  things,  Chriit:,!;9&L 
Heart,  man's,  evil,  loi  &  i 

Heaven  created  for  the  eleft,   52 
&  F 

hofi:  of,  worfliipped,  u  1 30 

journey  to,  v  131 

and  earth,  new,    58,365, 

554 


Heaven,  happinefs  of,  570  &  q^ 
Heavenly  believer's  journey 

hither,  v  1 3 1 

Heathen,  falvation  of,  l62,i7i, 

z  514 

oracles,  408  &  r 

Heathens  boaft,  having  dcftroy- 

ed  Chriftianity,  41 1 

Heathenifni  deftroyed,      41210 

414 

Hebrew  idiom,  r  78 

Hell,  this  world  whether,  546  to 

550  &  L 

—  its  torments  eternal,  546  &  k 

—  Milton's  defcriptionof,  l  55 1 
Herefies,  rife  of,        420,  d  424 

their  final  end,  508 

Heretics  not  allowed  to  trade, 

u  493 

Hermes, 0^73 

Herod,  King  in  Judea,  g  163 
High  Church  perfecutors,  458, 
&  c 
Hogs,  maflacre  of,  Q^  7  3 

Holinefs,  its  nature,  21 

Holv  of  Holies,  tvpical  of  what, 
253  &p 
Honour  of  the  Saints  at  the  laft 

day,  —  .  544 

Horeb  and   Sinai,  how   diftin- 

guiflied,         I    167 

Horns,  ten,beafls  with,  422, 4123, 

&    B 

Hofea,  the  firft  who  wrote  his 

prophecies,  247 

Humility,  its  excellence,        22 

its  time  nature,  29 

Hufs,  John,  martyred,  446  &c  w 
Hyperbolies  in  religion,  29 

Hypocrites   admitted   to   the 

Lord's  Supper,         6 


Januarius,  St.  his  blood,  s    488 

Janus,  the  temple  of,     299  &  v 

Japhet's  territory,  i'   116 

4  E  s  Jacob'6 


INDEX. 


Jacob's  ladder,  typical,  156  &  d 

wicftling,  1 5  7  Sc  E 

■ prophecy,  161  &  g 

death,  —       G   161 

Iberians  converted  to  Chriilia- 

nity, 425 

Jefuits  expelled  Japan,       r  4S0 
Idolatry,  origin  of,        128  &u 

Chaldean,  ib. 

kinds  of,  v    128 

Egyptian,         u  129,  130 

• Eailern,  u  1 3 1 

of  the  Tartars,      515  Sz  b 

Jehovah  Jireh,  b  148 

Jeriifalem,  God's  chofen  citv, 

2^8 

■ its  defrruftion,      397  &  i, 

400  &  K 

foretold   by  Chrift,     397 

&  I 

New,  552  &  M 

Jefus   Clii-ift,  his    incarnation, 
312,  &c. 

his  conception,  3 1 3 

his  birth  of  a  virgin,B  267, 

,3135  3H 

in  the  fulnefs  of  time,  3 1 4, 

316  &  A 
proclaimed  from  heaven, 

319,   320 

his  fatisfaftion,     323,324 

his  righteoufnefs  and  obe- 
dience, 321;,  kc. 

■ his  childhood,       328  &  o 

trials,  328 

private  life,  328,  329 

public  miniftry,  329,  &c. 

forerunner,  329 

• baptifm,  331 

temptation,      ib.  344  &  o 

preaching,  332  &  i 

miracles,  333 

clofe  of  his  miniftrv,    334 

&  K 

character,     335,  339  &  l 

his  fuiferings  and  infancy, 

340 

in  his  private  life,         341 

was  a  carpenter,   341  &  m 

• truly  fuffered,       342  &  >j 


Jefus  fuffered  povetry,  34^ 
hatred  and  reproach, 

343 

tried  as  a  malefaftor,  345, 

346 

denied,  ib. 

■ crucified,  347  to  350 

mocked,  348 

Jews  fought  a  pretence  for 

his  death,  r  348 

death,  — 349 

exaft  time  of,  t  349 


preached  to  fpirits  in  pri- 

fon,  w  350 

See  Appearances  and  Chrift. 

Jews  difperfed  to  all  parts  of  the 
world,  265,  X  510 

return    by    permiffion  of 

Cyrus,         247 

typical,  275 


—  wonderfully  preferved, 

291,   510  &  X 

—  given  up  to  judicial  blind- 
nefs,  395 

—  rejefted  of  God,  ib. 


deftroyed  by  the  Romans, 

396,   397  &  I 

warned  of  this,  396 

perfecuted  by  the  papifts, 

E_459 

converfionandreftoration, 

509,  510&X,  5i2&y 
Je>viili   difpenfation    abolifhed, 


Ignatius  martyred. 
Incarnation, 

its  neceffity. 


377 
o  404 

3I2,&C. 

313 


Indians  at  Stockbridge,Pref.Ed. 

miffionary  there,  12 

Indian  fimplicity,      l  466,  467 

letters,  l  467,  w  500 

fchools,  M  469 

academy  for  miffionaries, 

&c.  — w  499 

Indulgencies,  prices  of,  m  434 
Inquifition,  453  &  y 

praife  of,  y  453 

Infpiration  of  theO.Teftament, 
300,  301 

confirmed  bvChrift,2S2&M 

Job 


INDEX. 


Job,  book  of,        178  &  o,  305 

John  the  Evangelift  baniflied  to 

Patmos,  433,   N  404 

the  Baptift,  his  office,  329, 

330  &   H 

Jofeph's  hiftory,  157  &  f 

temptation    and    vii5lory, 

F  157 

a  type  of  C hrift,  1 5  8 

Jofliua,  book  of,  212  &  i 

Ireland  converted,  426 

malFacre  there,      459  &  d 

providential  deliverance  of 

D  459 
Ifaac,  a  pledge  of  the  covenant, 

143 

his  life  fpared,       143  &  a 

type  of  Chrift  riling  from 

the  dead,  —  b  1 48 

Ifaiah,    prophefied    of    Chrift, 

249  &  u 

Ifrael  preferved  in  Egypt,      164 

redeemed  from  Egypt,  166 

that  event  tvpical,        166, 

&c. 
led  through  thewildernefs, 

180 

that  alfo  typical,  ib. 

wonderfully  preferved, 

183   &  K 

refcued  by  the  judges,  196 

poflefs  all  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan, 192,  220 
Jubilee,  of  what  typical,      502 
Judah,  tribe  of,  preferved,    244 
Judas  Maccabeus,   his  bravery, 
292  &  s 
judgments  dreadful,   caufed  by 
fin,                  —  104 
Judgment  laft  and  general,   541 
Judges,  book  of,                k  2 1 4 
Julian  the  apoftate,       421,  422 

his  death,  422  &  z 

attempted  to  rebuild  Je- 

rufalem,     z  422 

K 

Kirkland,  Rev.  Mr.  letter  from, 
w  499 


Knowledge  of  good   and  evil, 

p  70 

Koran,  account  of,       437  &  o 

Kingdom  of  God  and  Heaven, 

366,  &c. 

See  Chrift  and  Evipire. 


Laban  an  idolator,  s  125 

Ladder,  Jacob's,  156  &d 

Lamai,  Delai,  living  idol,  b  515 

Lamentations,  book  of,  261  &y 

Languages,   origin    and   confu- 

fion  of,  CL.120,  &c. 

See  Tongues. 

Lateinos,  —  ^493 

Latter  days,  what,  363  &  a 

Laud,  Abp.  his  temper,    c  458 

Law,  given  from  Sinai,      173, 

174  &  L 

not  a  covenant  of  works, 

171;  &  M 

typical,  175,  176  &  N 

book  of,  wonderfully  pre- 
ferved, 243  &  T 

ceremonial  abblifhed,  267 

Learning,  human,    its    vanity, 
297 

its  proper  ufe,  478 

Letter  to  Mr.  Hall,  10 

See  Indian. 
Lewis  XIV.  his  cruelty,  456  &  b 
Libertine,  convei-fion  of,  p    180 
Licentioufnefs,   its  prevalence, 

474 

Light  of  the  Old    Teftament, 

63,82 

Living  at  the  laft  day  fliall  be 

changed,  538 

his  wife's  death,         c  1 54 

Longevity    of    the    patriarchs, 

178  &p 

Long  Ifland,  revival  of  religion 

there,  —  o   473 

Lorretto,  houfe  of,  moved  by 

miracle,  s  488 

its  riches,  t  491 

Lot  preferved  in  Sodom,   1 52  to 

154  &  c 

Luke 


INDEX. 


Luke,  the    companion    of    St. 
Paul,  384 


M 

BlahomcL's  rife  and   charafter, 

436  to  438  2c  p 

Majefty  and  power  of  God  fcen 

in  Redemption,         564,  565 

Maimonides  on  idolatry,  u  128 

Makkaph,  point,  g  165 

Malachi,  prophecy  of,  283 

Manes  and    the   Manichees,  d 

424 

Mark  of  the  beaft,  u  493 

MafTacre  of  the  Jews,        i   399 

■ Irifli,  459  Sc  D 

Parifian,  455  &  a 

Mediatorial  office,  Chrift,  com- 
menced at  the  fall,       64,  &c. 
Mediators,  heathens,   origin  of, 
u   129 
Melchifedec  blefTeth  Abraham, 
138 

■ who .''  Y  1 3  8 

IMercy,   divine,  its  true  nature, 

i^  547 
Mercy  feat  typical,  233  ik  p 
Merit  of  Chrift's  obedience, 32 2 
jMeiilah  expelled  as  a  facrifice, 
0^234 
JMillennium,  ftate  of,    (;20,  Sec. 

the  time  for  fulfilling  the 

remiining  prophecies,         ib. 

a  time  of  great  knowledge, 

ib. 

of  great  holincfs,  522 

of  vital  religion,   523 

• peace  and  love,    524 

order  in  the  churches, 

5.25 
the  church's  glory, ib. 

temporal   profperitv, 

ib. 

great  joy,  526 

• its  duration,  ib. 

doctrine  of  explained,  c 

527 


Minirtry  of  Chrift,  how  fininied, 

334  &K 

Miniftry,  gofpel,  inftituted,378 

Miracles  in  the  wildernefs,    183 

&  R 

miracles  of  Chrift,       333 

of  the  apoftles,  &c.  380  &  e 

popifh,  487  &  s 

Mifery  of  the  wicked,  570 

See  Hell. 
Miflma  quoted,  e  348 

Monaftries,  expence  of,     m  434 
IMorals  of  the  heathen  philofo- 

phers,  how  corrupted,  u  295 

Mofes  prophefied  of  Chrift,  1 84, 

187  &  T 

call  of  the  Gentiles,     187 

wrote  the  Pentateuch,  Qj  80 

Moth  worm  defcribed,  a  45,  44 
Mufcovy,  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel 

there,         —  462,  463 

My  fteries  of  Providence,  561  &o 


N 

Nakednefs,  our  firft  parents,?  69 
Nathan  and  Gad,  book  of,  227 
Neceffitv  of  aboliftiing  the  ce- 
remonial lavv',  267 
Negleft  of  Chrift,  danger  of, 
356,  &c. 
Negroes,  prcfent  ftate  of,     515 

&   A 

Nehcmiah's  commiffion,       276 

book,  280 

Nero's  perfecuticn,      403  &  m 

New  Teftament,  when,  and  by 

whom  written,  385  &  h 

Ktw.  See  Heaven. 

Noah  faved  in  the  ark  106,  107 

typical,  10&  &  N 

his  prophecy,  p  1 10  to  1 1 7 

poetic.  Pill 


his  intoxication,    p  no 

his  family  preferved  the 

true  religion,  124 

Nod,  land  of,  9  7  &:   e 

Number  of  the  beaft,        u  493 


Obfcenc 


I    N    D    E    X. 


O 


Obfcene  publications,  theevilof, 

5 
Odoacer,  king   of  the    Henili, 
c  423 
Old.    See  Teftament. 
Oneida  Indians,  w  497 

Oracle,  heathen,  408  Sc  r 

Sybilline,  n  267 

Origen  platonized,  p  424 

Origin  of  langiiage,  0^122 

of  preaching,  k  278 

of  fynagogiies,      281  &k 

Orphan  hoiife  at  Glauca,      470 

&  N 

at  Georgia,  o  473 

Oiiris  and  Ifis,  u   129 


Patriarchs,   the  Old  Teftament, 

wonderfully  prefei-ved,     149, 

&c. 

Patrick,  St.  preaches  in  Ireland, 

426 

Paul,    St.    his    converfion  and 

million,  382 

quotes  the  heathen  poets, 

297  &  w 

Paul  n.  Pope,  his  veftments,   t 

490 

Pelagius  and  Pelagianifm,      421 

&  Y 

Pentecoft,  day  of,    379,380,  & 

E 

Pentateuch,  written  by  Mofes, 

Q^  180 

Perfecution  of  the  Jews  by  An- 

tiochus,  291,  292  &  R 
of   Chriftianity,    by    the 

Jews,  '    394 

the  firft  general,    403  &  m 

• the  2d,         —         N  404 

the  third,        —  ib. 


Perfecution  the  4thj  p  40; 

the  loth,        ^09,  410  Sc  s 

of  the  Orthodo.x,   by  the 

Arians,  42 1 

chargeable  on  all  parties, 

D425 

Icfs  than  formerly,       476 

Perfecutions,  Popifli,   452,  8cc. 


m  Gerniany, 
France,     455  &  a, 


England, 
Scotland, 
Irelan'j, 
Spain. 


—      ib. 


454 
456 

&  B 

457 

459 

S:  D 


—   _       E459 

Spanilli  America,      ib, 

Perfons  of  the  Trinity,  e  50 
Perfonal  Types,  2197 
Peter  the  Great,  —  463 
Philofophers,  the  heathen,  295 
8c  u 
oppofed  the  gofpel,  401 

&   L 

Chriitian,  depraved   it, 

D  424 

Phials,  (in  the   Revelation)  the 

firft  five  explained,  447,  448 

the  6'ch  and  7th,       503, 

Piety  of  the  Ifraelites,  who  en- 
tered Canaan,  190 
Pius  VI.  prefent  Pope,  his  cha- 
racter,                  0^476 

Pilgrims,  believers  fo  called,  v 
131 
Pillar  of  a  clo\id  and  fire,  k  169 
Plots,  popifh,  dtfeated;  450,452 
PlutfchOjMr.  Danifti  miilionary 
M  468 
Points,  Hebrew,  g  165 

Polycarp,  martyred,  p  405 

Pope's  power  decreafed,      475, 

Popes  idolized,  432  &  k 
depofcd  princes,     433, 

&   L 

robbed  the  people,  ib.  m 

antichrift,  429  &  ¥ 

early  oppofed,    441  &  s 

Popery 


INDEX. 


Popery,  its  rife,  gradual,    p  43 1 

See   AnticJiriJi. 
Population,  ftate  of,  at  the  flood, 

98 
— at  the  end  of  the  world. 

Porphyry  wrote  againfl:  Chrifti- 

anity,  l  402 

Poverty  of  Chrift,  342 

Preaching,  origin  of,         h  278 

of  Ezra,         —  ib 

of  Chrift,  332  &  I 

to  fpirits  in  prifon,  w 

350 
Predeftination,     a   comfortable 
doftrine,  —  16 
Prefence  of  the  Lord,         r>  97 
Price  of  Redemption,     323  &  e 
Promife,   the  very  firft  compre- 
henfive,                           0^75 
Promifes,  abftrafts  of  God's  de- 
crees,                              Y  194 
Prophecies  fcarce  in  the  time  of 
the  judges,                       b  204 
abundant  after  the  capti- 
vity,  ■                                 251 

of   Ezekiel    and    Daniel, 

270 

when  ceafed,  283 

fulfilment   of,  proves  the 

truth  of  revelation,  485 

as  to  the  prefervation  of 

the  church,  48  f; 
concerning  antichrift,  486 

to  494 
future   reafon    to    credit, 

495 
grand  period  of  fulfilling, 

520 

Prophets,  order  of,    inftituted, 

200,  &c. 

fchool  of,  ib. 

college  of,        204,  &c. 

conneft  temporal  events 

with  fpiritual,     g  209,  o  232 

• feveral  eminent,        247 

Prolperity  of  the  Church  in  the 

time  of  Conilantine,        412, 

413 


Proteftantiim,  prefent  ftatc  of  in 
Ruflia,  463  &  I 

Providence,  divine,    189,  560, 
561  &  o 
Providences  extraordinary,  470 
&  N 
Providential  deliverance  for  Ire- 
land, D  459 

feveral  in    England, 

450,  &c. 

Pfalms,  Book  of,    215,  216  &  l 

Purchafe  of  Redemption,  322, 

&c. 


R 


Redemption  what,  49,  50 

covenant  of,       50  e  51 

how  carried  on,  53,  &c. 

defign  of,  56,  &c. 

completed  in  glory,  532 

Reformation,  446,  &c. 

Reformed  church,   decreaie  of, 

473 

Relics,  popifh,  t  490 

Reprobation,  an  objection  to  it 

obviated,  R  57^ 

Refurreftion  of  Chrift,  372,374 

fpiritual,        367,  c  527 

general,   536,  537  &  e, 

539    &  F 

58 
512 
&  Y 


Reftitution,  univerfal, 
Reftoration  of  the  Jews, 


Revolutions,      remarkable      in 

Providence,  253 

Righteoufnefs  of  God,  45 

of  Chrift,         325,  &c. 

of  the  Saints,  543 

Rochefter  Ld.  his  converfion, 
u  250 
Romiith,  495 

Rome,  why  called  Babylon,  387 
Rome,  church  of,  its  riches  and 
fplendour,  490  &  r 

Rolfeau's  dying  words,       p  474 
Ruth,-  book  of,  K  214 

S.  Sab- 


INDEX. 


Sabbath,  Chriftian,      377,  378 
&  D 
Saccas,  Amm.  his  notions,  d  424 
Sacred  fire  loft,  264 

Sacrifices,  origin  of,         76  &  r 

^3 

of  Cain  and  Abel,  s  79 

types,   234  &  Q^,  N  176 

Saints,   fliull  judge  devils,      542 
Samaritans  oj)pofe the  Jews,  276 

converfion  of,  391 

Samuel,  the  prophet,  his  writ- 
ings, 212,  214  &  K 
Saracens  compared  to  locufts, 

439  ^^'Q^ 

Satan,  his  kingdom  on  earth  de- 

ftroyed,  506,  &c. 

his  final  judgment,       541 

Satisfaction,  Chrifl's,   322,  &c. 
Saved,  few,  before  Chrift's  com- 
ing, —  62  &  L 

• number  of,  l  62 

Scotland,    revival    of    religion 

there,  w  499 

Scripture  hiftory,   when  filent, 

2:1 


Signs    before    Jenifalem's    de- 
ftruftion,  i  398 

Sin,  the  unpardonable,  a  422 
Skins,  coats  of,  typical,  81  &  t 
Smith,  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  our  au- 
thor's friends,  22 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  their  fin 
and  deftrudlion,  p  112 
Solomon,  a  tyi)e  of  Chrift,  237 

his  writings,  241  &  s 

Sons  of  God,  who,        100  &  h 
Sovereignty  of  God,  15,  16,25, 

Spirit,  Holy,  his  glory,         28 

effufion  of  in  the  wilder- 

nefs,  190 
return  at  Chrift's  coming, 


in  the  latter  days. 


499 
494 


Spirit  of  Chriftianity, 
Star,  an  emblem  of  Deity,  s  1S5 
Stone  of  Ifrael,  x  192 
Sufferings  of  Chrift,  340,  Sec. 
Sun  and  moon  ll:and  ftill,  y  194 
worfhip  of,            u  1 30 


ufe  of,  301,   302 

its  infpiration  proved,  563 

hated  by  the  papifts,    436 

8c  N 
Scriptures,  wifdom  of  God  in, 

303 
Seed  of  the  woman,  0^74 

of  the  ferpent,         0^73 

Self  righteoufnefs  reproved,354, 

n    .  355 

Septuagmt  tranflation,  288,  289 

&  p 

Serpent,     the    old,    his    curfe, 

Q.72,  73 

worfliipped,  ib. 

his  head  bruifed,     0^74 

Shechinah,  p  71,  k  169 

See  Appearances. 
Sheth,the  name  of  a  place,  s  185 
Shewbread,  typical,        233  &  p 
.S'///M,  prophecy  of,  g  164,  &c. 

4F 


Tabernacle,  Jewifli,ere<9:ed,  19- 

a  type.     See  Temple. 

Talmud  quoted,  3 1 3 

Temple,   Solomon's,  a  type  of 

Chrift,  232  &c  p 

Temptation,  ChrilVs,   331,  344 

&  o 
Terah,  an  idol  maker,  t  127 
Teftament,  Old,  its  inlpiration, 

300 

its  utility,  307 

confirmed  by  Chrift, 

282  &:  M 
Tongues,  confufion  of,  0^120, 

&c. 

gift  of,  379,  380  &  K 

Tradition    often    injurious    to 
truth,  c  9^ 

early,    hovv*    conveyed, 

178  &  p 


INDEX. 


Tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good 

and  evil,  p  70 

Trent,  council  of,        449,  450 

Trinity,  perfons  of,  e  50 

Tninipets  (in   the   Revelation) 

four  firll  explained,  423   &  c 

Turkifh  conquefts,  440 

Types,  Old  Teftament,  b  148, 

149,   175,     176    &    N,    208 

&  F,    234  &Q^,  U350 

U 

Vail  of  the  temple,         233  &  p 
Valentinus  and    his  followers, 

D  424 
Veftments,  popifli,  t  490 

Vials.     See  Phials. 
Virgin,  prophecy  of,         0231 
Voltaire's  faying  of  the   Pope, 

0^476 

dying  words,  p  474 

Unbelief  reproved,  353 

Urr  of  Chaldea,  t   127 

Urim  and  Thummim,  263  &  z 

W 

Walking  with  God,  a  92 

Waldenfes,  442,  &c. 


Waldenfes,  their  do6trine,T  444 

perfecuted  by  the  Papifls, 

445  &  u 
Wars,  popifh,  451,  452 

Whitefield,  his  labours  in  Ame- 
rica, o  473 
WicklifFe  and  his  followers,445, 
446 
Wifdom  of  God  in  Redemption, 
566 

in  the  fcriptures,  303 

Witnefles  for  the  truth  in  every 

age,  441  &  s 

World  burnt,  545 


Young  people  in  our  author's 
congregation,  their  improper 
behaviour,  5 

Young  generation  in  the  wil- 
dernefs,  their  piety,  igo 

See  Children. 


Zechariah,  the  prophet,       277 

Ziengenbalgh,  Danifh  milTion- 

ary,  m  468 


TABLE    OF    TEXTS 


More  or  lefs  explained  In  tlils  Work. 
/ 


8:|p    The   Articles  referring   to   the  Text   only,    are  SJlinguiJIied  by 
the   Page ;  thofe  to  the  Notes   only,  by  a  Letter  prefixed  to  the 
page;   [as  s  79.  i.  e.   liote  s  page  79,]   thofe  that  refer  to  both  Text 
and    Note  have  the  Letter  added  after  the  Page;  [as  88  and  x 
Page  88  and  JVo/e  x.] 


Cen.  i.  28. 

108 

xxxi.  24. 

.    151 

.     125  and  s 

iii.  8 — II, 

p  69 

53- 

15.       . 

57,  69,   70,  72 

xxxii.  24,  &.-C. 

157  and  E, 

and  Q^,  80,  82 

A  199 

iv.     I. 

.      85,  86  and  w 

XXXV.      5. 

157  and  K 

4,   &c. 

79     and  s 

xxxix.   7 — 12, 

8. 

X  88 

xlviii.  21. 

G  161,  &c. 

14,   15. 

.     99  and  G 

xlix.  8 — 10.  i( 

61  and  G,  262 

x6. 

97  and  E 

1.  20. 

158 

25. 

87,  98 

Exod.  iii.  2,  3. 

.     167  and  I 

26. 

89  and  z,  90,  91 

viii.  26. 

18S 

v.  24. 

92  and  A,  95  &  c 

xii.   12. 

168 

29. 

p  116 

xxi.    6. 

.     47  and  D 

vi.    I — 4.     , 

100  &:  H,    103 

xxiii.  20,  21. 

A  201 

viii.  15. 

.              551    , 

xxiv.  9 — II. 

198 

20 — 22. 

loi  and  I,   109 

xxxiii.  2 — 4. 

A  201 

ix.    1—3,   7. 

•       .      ',°9 

xxxiv.  6,  &c. 

198 

4,  &c. 

1 18  and  Q_ 

xxxiv.  24. 

196 

9,   10. 

109  and  0 

Levit.  vi.   13. 

264 

20,  &c. 

p  1 10 

Numb,  xiv.  31. 

187 

25—27. 

P    III,  &c. 

XX.  8 — 13. 

334 

xi.  28. 

T   127 

xxii.  28. 

s   184 

xiii.  21. 

81  and  T 

xxiv.   17,    19. 

184  and  s 

xiv.   4,  &:c. 

•        •         137 

Deut.  iv.  32 — 34. 

170,  173 

1% — 20. 

V    139,  140 

viii.  4. 

183  and  R 

XV.   9 — 18. 

1 40  and  z 

2,  3»   iv 

188,    189 

16. 

I  qo 

and  u 

xvii.  10. 

136  and  w 

xviii.  16 — 19,  I 

86, 1 87  and  T 

xvii.  17,  &c. 

c  154 

xxxii.  8. 

122  and  R 

xix     I — 25. 

152,    154,  &c. 

21. 

1S7,  39^ 

xxli.  I  — 16. 

143  to  148  and 

22. 

546 

A  and  E,  234 

xxxiii.   13,   14. 

V  194 

xxiv.  31. 

p  115 

Jofli.  V.  13,  14 

198 

xxvi.   35. 

•     ,      ',50 

vii.   19 — 26. 

191  and  w 

xxviii.   12 — I 

4          156  and  D 

X.    5— i4- 

507 

4 

F2 

Jofli. 

TAB-^E       OF       TEXTS. 


Jofll.    X.    12,     13, 

193,    Y    194 

Ifaiah  xxvi.  17. 

•     •      5^9 

xviii.  I. 

195 

xxxvii.  30, 

31.     .        247 

xxiii.  8. 

190 

xl.  4,   5. 

S2I 

xxiv.  2. 

124 

15- 

506 

Judges  vi.  1 1,  &c. 

199  and  A 

xli.  2,  3. 

138  and  X 

xiii.   17,  21. 

ib. 

22,  23. 

563 

I.  Sam.  iii.   i. 

202  and  B 

xliii.   4. 

•         .        567 

xiii.  14. 

M   220 

xlv.  22. 

.         .       516 

xvi.  6,  7. 

207  and  E 

Ii.    q.           . 

45 

13. 

215 

8. 

.     43,  &c. 

xvii.  14. 

210  and  H 

liii.  3. 

343 

II.  Sam.  vii.  16. 

219 

4,  10. 

249  and  u 

viii.  3. 

222 

P235 

xxiii.    I. 

215 

Ix.  4,   5. 

502 

I.  Kings  viii.  9. 

262 

21. 

52a 

xviii.  4. 

204 

Ixv.  I. 

396 

11.  Kings  ii.  15. 

204 

Ixvi.   7 — 9. 

w  501,  503 

xxii.  8,  &c. 

243  and  T 

Jerem.  ii.  2,  3. 

188 

^^^-  ... 

204  and  G 

X.   II. 

413 

I.  Chro.  xxiii.  26. 

226 

XXV.   15 — 2 

7.        .          254 

xxix.  29. 

K  215,  &C. 

xxxii.  39. 

508 

II.  Chro.  xxiii.  18. 

225 

xxxiv.  18 — 

-20.          z   141 

Ezra  i.  4. 

.            278 

1.   35-38. 

129 

ii.  63. 

262 

Ezek.  i.  18 — 20. 

561 

ii.  55. _ 

221 

xxi.  7. 

255 

Nehem.  viii.  i  — 12 

278  and  H 

Dan.  ii.  7. 

366 

X.  3. 

221 

35- 

506 

Efllier  iii.  8. 

265 

40. 

294 

Job  xxxi.  26,  27, 

V  130 

41. 

422 

Pfalms  xvi.  10. 

B  372 

44. 

259, 520 

xlv.  12. 

•           523 

v.  30. 

273 

Ixxiv.  8. 

281  and  K 

iii.  25. 

271 

XC.    10. 

182 

vii.  6. 

.  288,289 

cv.  12,  &c. 

151 

13,  14. 

369,517 

ex.  I. 

376,  397 

20,21. 

454.487 

cxviii.  24. 

374 

24. 

486 

cxxii.  3. 

525 

27. 

387,516, 523 

Cant.  ii.  i. 

17 

vui.  5,  7,  2 

I.     288,  289 

vii.  7. 

406 

and  N 

Ifaiahii.  3,  4.        21 

9»  39O'  523 

ix.  24,  27. 

,272  and  D, 

12,  &c. 

259 

276,   329 

17,18. 

413 

xi.    3,   4.' 

286 

vii.  2 — 14. 

231  and  0 

..  45- 

293 

xi.    I. 

209  and  G 

xii.  4. 

477 

6,  Sec. 

392,  524 

II. 

.         .         498 

9. 

516 

Hofea  i.ii. 

.       512 

xxiv.  23. 

•        521 

vi.  6. 

R   78 

XXV.   7. 

lb. 

xii."  4. 

A    19 

•   ■ 

Amos 

TABLE 


T     E     X     T     S. 


15- 


Amos  vii.   14, 
ix.      II. 
Haggaiii.  6,  7. 

23. 
Micah  V.  2.     . 
Zechar.  iv.  6,  7. 
viii.  4,  5,  12 
xii.  10,  &:c. 
xiv.  6,   7. 

20,  2  1. 

Mai.  iii.  i,  2. 
iv.  2 — 4. 
6. 
Matt.  ii.  3—6 


111. 


317 

256, 321 

277 

317 

499 

509 
521 

522 

A  201,  2 57,3 2'l 

283 

524 

B  317 

73 

396 

326 

331 
344  and  o 

342 

A  42 
B  85 


10. 

13—15. 
16,     17. 

iv.    I  —  II. 

viii.  20. 

xii.  21,  22. 

xvi.  28. 

xxiv.throughoiit,397to4oo 
and  K 
22. 

xxvi.  39,  ^ 

xxvii.  40, 

xxviii.  19,  20 
Mark  vi.  3. 

xiy.  33,  34. 
Luke  11.  I. 


/• 
24. 
xviii.  8. 
xxii.  53. 
xxiv.  18 
John  i.  II. 
14. 
iii.  8. 
30. 
iv.  20. 


23. 
36. 


V. 


22, 
35> 

37- 

.  39- 
vii.  27. 

viii.  56. 

xii.    20,  21 

xiii.   7. 


xm. 


ohy- 


427 

0.345 
349  and  s 

378,  379 
341  and  M 
345  and  p 
293,  318  &  c 
340 
317 
497 

349 
269 

343 
117 

31 
239,  331 

391 

364 

392 

A     200 

282  and  M 

Z313 

249 

268 

o  561 

60 


Rom. 


John  XV.   12,   14. 
xvi.  12,   13. 
xvii.   I. 
xviii.  20,  21. 

3'- 
xix.  20,  &c. 
Afts  ii.  26 — 30. 

iii.  24. 
V.  31. 
vi.  I, 

3,  &c. 
vii.  45. 

^'-  3 1)  33- 

43- 

X";    1—3- 
xiii.  46,  47. 
XV.  6,  &c. 
xvii.  16. 
18.       . 
22,  &c. 
26,  27. 
21. 
iv.  II. 
X.  19,  20. 
Xi.    12 — 15. 
27. 

30—32. 
xiv.  9. 
xvi.   I. 
L  Cor.  i.  21. 
iii.  22. 
vi.  3. 
20. 

X.   I  I. 

XV.  10. 

25. 

33- 

TT   ^       .51—53- 
n.  Cor.  i.  4. 

iii.  10. 

iv.  15.     .     ■ 

Gal.    i:i.  24. 

Eph.  i.  10. 

20 — 22. 

Phil.  ii.  8,  9. 

Colof.  i.   15. 

26. 

ii.   10. 


333 

.         381 

K    334 

R348 

322 

349  and  p 
215 

•      372 
203,  213 

376 
268,  &  c  269 
282 
221 
514 

D  206 

394 
396 
383  &  G 
392 
401 
297 

125  &  R 

478 

137 

187,  248 

513  &Y 

389 
171 

373 

F  28a 
173 

Y  193 

54i»  542 

E323 

181, 363 

382 

57 
297 

•  538 

8 
.  163 

Y  193 
•    153 

59 

376 

•  373 

66 

381 

•]     59 
I.lThei; 


TABLE       OF       TEXTS. 


I.  Thef.  iv.  1 6. 

F  540  R 

ev.  xii.  I . 

235,  387 

26. 

536 

2. 

257,  387 

II.  Thef.  ii.  3. 

428, 486 

3- 

406,  423 

4- 

432  andK,  486 

6. 

427,  443 

7- 

429,  486 

7- 

406 

8. 

517 

9.  . 

414,  516 

9; 

487  ands 

14. 

443 

I.  Tim.  i.  17. 

,   17 

16. 

424 

V.  9. 

F  382 

xiii.  I. 

423 

II.  Tim,  vi.  6, 

7.        402 

3- 

•   429 

Hebrews  vii.  i- 

— 6.     Y  139 

7- 

•  454 

ix.  26. 

363 

9. 

73 

X.  I. 

N  177 

13,  14.  429 

and  F,  487 

25,  27. 

397 

and  s 

31. 

M  104 

17- 

493  and  u 

xi.  4. 

79  and  s 

XIV.  4,  5. 

444 

5- 

92  and  A 

16,8. 

502,  503 

91;  and  c 

XV.  10,  &c. 

448 

13,  14- 

V  131 

xvi.  12. 

496,  503 

17—19. 

148  and  B 

H- 

504 

xii.  21. 

174 

15. 

517 

I.  Peter  i.  3. 

374  and  c 

16. 

505 

10,  II. 

205,  206,  and  D 

19,20. 

507 

12. 

319'  357 

21. 

^'^ 

iii.  iS — 22. 

106  and  N, 

xvii.  4. 

49  and  T 

351 

5- 

.   387 

n.  Peter  iii.  ic 

S  12.    .  546 

6. 

452,  486 

I.  John  iii.  2. 

0.570 

16. 

509 

iv.  19. 

27 

18. 

486 

Jnde  7. 

154 

12,  13. 

487 

14,  15. 

93  and  B,  94 

xviii.  24. 

452 

Revel,  i.  10. 

378  and  D 

xix.  7,9. 

526 

vi,  9,  10. 

410 

10.   2o6-and  d,  248 

n— 17. 

•   367:  412 

II — 18,  19. 

505 

vii.  I. 

386 

XX.  3. 

518,  529 

viii.  I, 

420 

4-     S^' 

>  523»  526 

7—13- 

.  42  3  and  c 

5- 

368 

ix.  3,  &c. 

439  ^"d  Q^ 

529 

15,  &c. 

440  and  R 

8. 

104,  529 

X.  5—7. 

506 

9. 

104 

xi.  3,  &c. 

441  and  s 

.^3- 

537  and  E 

7,  8. 

496 

xxi.  I. 

365,  554 

12,  13. 

52S 

14. 

379 

x5>  19- 

C22 

23, 

68 

AMERICAN  PREACHER. 


THE  Fourth  Volume  of  the  American  Preacher,  lately 
publiflied  at  New-Haven,  may  be  had  at  the  Book-ftore  of 
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other  Bookfellers  in  the  United  States. 

This  Volume  is  fupported  by  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  of  Pequea, 
Pennfylvania — by  Rev.  Theodore  Hinfdale,  Windfor,  Connec- 
ticut— by  Samuel  Langdon,  D.  D.*  Hampton  Falls,  Ncw-Hamp- 
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kins, Hartford,  Connefticut — and  by  Rev.  Nathan  Ker,  Gollien, 
New -York. 

The  growing  reputation  of  this  work  induces  the  Editors  to  an- 
nounce a  fifth  Volume.  Contributions  of  Mamifcripts  for  this 
Volume,  are  ftill  received  and  gratefully  acknowledged. 


Shortlyimll  be  fublijiied.  No.  I.  of  a  JVorh^  entitled^ 

The    millennium, 

Or  the  Thoufnnd  Years  of  Profperity  promifed  to  the  Church  of 
God,  in  the  Old  Teftament  and  in  the  New;  fliortly  to  commence, 
and  to  be  carried  on  to  perfeftion,  under  the  aufpices  of  him  who, 
in  the  vilion,  was  prefented  to  St.  Jghn.  '■'■  And  I faiv.  andbJiold 
a  luhite  horfe ;  and  he  that  fat  on  him  had  a  boio^  and  a  croivn  ivas  given 
unto  him^  and  he  "xent  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer.^'' 

The  defign  of  this  work  is  to  prefent  to  the  Chrifdan  world,  an- 
tient  and  modern  interpretations  of  the  figures,  numbers,  dates, 
and  hieroglyphicks,  which  the  infpiration  of  Hea-cen  hath  thought 
proper  to  ufe,  in  order  to  maintain  a  prophetic  chronology  during  the 
progrefs  of  the  Ark  of  God,  on  the  Ocean  of  Time ; — or,  in  other 
words,  to  point  out,  by  a  judicious  obfervation,  the  latitude  in 
which  the  Ark  now  fails;  with  an  ultimate  reference  to  an  accu- 
rate calculation  as  to  her  probable  fafety,  in  pafling  thofe  dreary  re- 
gions into  which  flie  may  be  about  to  enter,  and  of  tlie  prof[)erity 
that  fliall  enfue. 

*  Author  of  the  lati  celebrated  Trcatife  en  the  Rtvciation. 


(  ^  ) 

As  the  objeft  is  of  general  ufe,  and  may  be  entitled  to  general 
fupport,  the  Editor  will  gratefully  acknowledge  any  judicious  con- 
tributions of  dilcourfes,  or  diflertations  on  the  prophecies,  efpe- 
cially  fuch  as  relate  to  the  events  of  the  latter  day  ;  and  the 
Aut!iors  may  expeft  to  fee  them  inferted  in  the  courfe  of  this  work. 
This  firfi  number  will  be  an  oftavo  of  400  pages,  printed  on  an 
elegant  paper  and  type,  to  contain  Doftor  Bellamy's  Difcourfe  on 
R.EV.  XX.    I,    2,    3. 

"  And  If  aw  an  angel  come  dozvnfrom  Hsaven  having  the  key  of  the 
hottomlefs  pit,  and  a  great  chain  in  his  hand.  Add  he  laid  hold  on  the 
dragon,  that  oldferpent  ivhich  is  the  Devil  and  Satan,  ajid  bound  him  a 
Thousand  Years.  And  cap.  him  into  the  botioinlefs  pit,  andfiut  him 
up,  and  fct  afeal  upon  him,  that  heJJteuld  deceive  the  nations  ?io  more,  till 
the  thoufand years Jliould  be  fulfilled.'" 

Next  to  this  difcourfe,  may  be  expefted  a  part,  or  the  whole  of 
Prefident  Edwards's  "  Humble  Attempts  to  promote  explicit  agree- 
ment and  vifible  Union  of  God's  people  in  extraordinary  prayer  for 
the  revival  of  Religion,  and  the  advancemefit  oi  Christ's  King- 
dom on  Earth,  purfuant  to  fcripture-promifes  and  prophecies  con- 
cerning the  last  time," — founded  on  Zechariah  viii.  20,  21,  22. 

"  Thus  faith  the  Lord  of  Hafts,  it  Jliall  yet  come  to  pafs,  that  there 
fiall  come  people,  and  the  i?Jiabitants  of  matiy  cities  ;  and  the  inhabitants 
of  one  city  Jliall  go  unto  another, faying.  Let  us  go  fpeedily  to  pray  before  the 
Lord,  j-zW/oyi?*?/^ //^e  Lord  of  Hosts.  Iivill go  alfo.  Yea, -many 
people  and  frong  nations  Jliall  come  to  feek  the  Lord  of  Hosts  in  Je- 
rufalem,  and  to  pray  before  the  Lord." 

After  this,  if  there  be  place  in  the  Volume,  and  no  better  ma- 
terials offer,  a  Difcourfe  preached  by  the  Editor,  at  New-York,  on 
the  evening  of  the  Lord's  Day,  April  7,  1793,  maybe  added, 
entitled,  "  The  Downfal  of  iVfy/'/tv?/ Babylon  ;  or,  A  Key  to  the 
political  Operations  of  1793," — founded  on  Rev.  xviii.  20. 

"  Rejoice  over  her,  thou  heaven,  andye  holy  apojiles  and  prophets  ;  for 
God  hath  avenged  you  on  her.^' 


